Ritchie praises work of Ballinran Community Association

Maeve Walls, Department for Social Development, today paid tribute, on behalf of Margaret Ritchie, to the work of the Ballinran Community Association.

Ms Walls, Director of the Voluntary and Community Unit, was attending the opening of the newly refurbished Bracken Centre in Ballinran. The centre provides space for a range of facilities for people of all ages throughout the Kilkeel area including:

• an IT suite;
• sports and recreational amenities; and
• community space.

The Department contributed nearly £41,500 to the project through the Modernisation Fund Capital Programme.

Maeve Walls said: ‘’Shared space is particularly important for the building of strong local communities and the refurbishment of this building will help to bring the people of Kilkeel together. The restored facility will be a focal point for the development of a range of new services for people in an otherwise isolated rural community. It is an enduring example of how communities can support one another and I am delighted that the Department has been able to support this project.

“The Minister wants to see the Modernisation Fund providing the most modern facilities to make community based initiatives more effective. The fund is about providing support to organisations throughout Northern Ireland, enabling them to deliver better services to their local communities.”

Notes to the editors:

1. Funding for this project is being provided from the DSD Modernisation Fund.
2. DSD is contributing funding of £41,308 to the Ballinran Community Centre. Other funders and funding groups have helped finance the project including substantial public donation.
3. The objective of the Modernisation Fund is to support voluntary and community organisations to modernise so as to allow them to become more sustainable and deliver new and better services in an era of change. The capital programme will encourage collaboration and resource sharing among voluntary and community groups and will be managed across the schemes making up the programme.
4. Media enquires to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078. Out of hours, please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.