Minister announces funding for north Belfast community project

A £200,000 community regeneration project was unveiled this week by the Minister for Social Development.

The investment package known as the North Belfast Community Action Project was launched on Monday December 3 at Duncairn Gardens in Belfast.

Speaking about the project Mr Dodds said: “This project is all about helping people on the ground to gain the confidence and the skills to improve their communities. The Department for Social Development is already very active in regeneration in North Belfast and this initiative will provide a new impetus and focus for their work.

“My Department has special responsibility for the relationship between Government and the voluntary and community sector. If communities in North Belfast and elsewhere across the Province are to have the confidence and the skills to identify their needs and solve their problems, then they need the support, the encouragement and the resources to do so.”

The North Belfast Action Project is a joint initiative of the Department for Social Development and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. The project will be led by the Very Rev Dr John Dunlop. It will focus on building community capacity in those areas in which this is weak in addition to maintaining community activity where this is working well. An outreach advisory service will be provided to help ensure that all areas can take full advantage of existing programmes including Peace II.

SDLP assembly member for north Belfast Alban Maginness said: “I want to welcome this initiative and congratulate the First Minister and Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan for all the work that has been undertaken to resolve the difficulties in north Belfast. I am sure that this initiative will have an impact in addressing social and community issues in north Belfast.” (AMcE)