Ritchie opens community centres in Fermanagh

Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie today opened Boho Community Centre and Ederney Town hall during a visit to Fermanagh.

The Department provided £80,000 through its Modernisation Fund for a much needed extension to the Boho community hall and the provision of IT equipment. It provided £50,000 through the fund for the restoration works at Ederney Town hall, including reglazing, new entrance doors and the installation of a lift. The funding also provided kitchen and sports equipment as well as a new sound system.

Margaret Ritchie said: “I want to see the Modernisation Fund providing the most modern facilities to make community based initiatives more effective. This is about providing support to organisations throughout Northern Ireland, enabling them to deliver better services and a shared future to their local community. This is clearly visible from the two rural community facilities I visited today. It is giving them access to vital services, which until recently, were not available. The fund is also helping to ensure that some of our most interesting and historic buildings are being brought back to life, such as Ederney Town Hall.

“Today I have witnessed the coming together of many people and I have seen at first hand their commitment to work together for the greater good of their community. These are two communities who can be proud of their achievements.”

The Boho community hall is used by range of organisations including youth clubs and women’s groups. During her visit to Boho, the Minister met with members of the local Community Association and groups who ulitise the hall.

In Ederney she met with members of local Community Development Trust who managed the refurbishment of the historic Town Hall. The hall will enable everyone in the locality to benefit from a range of new services that are being developed, including a drop in service for young people, recreational and educational classes for young and old as well as a tourist information point.

Notes to editors:

1. The Modernisation Fund is a £15million capital programme which aims to support voluntary and community organisations to modernise, enabling them to become more sustainable and deliver new and better services in an era of change.

2. The Modernisation Fund is managed by the Voluntary and Community Unit (VCU) in the Department for Social Development. The Modernisation Fund Community Partnership (MFCP) delivers the Fund on behalf of VCU. The MFCP comprises three organisations: Co-operation Ireland, Community Evaluation Northern Ireland (CENI), and Community Places (previously Community Technical Aid).

3. The programme has been broken down into three themes, based on grant award;

• Theme 1 - £9million – Pilot infrastructure Scheme (£300,000-£1.5million);
• Theme 2 - £3million - Community Facilities Improvement Scheme (£100,000 - £300,000);
• Theme 3 - £3million – Small Capital Grants (£20,000 - £100,000).

4. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9496. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned