Craigavon and Banbridge Volunteer Bureau win £1m award

An award of £1 million has been presented to Craigavon and Banbridge Volunteer Bureau for the creation of a Healthy Living Centre initiative which will be administered from the old hospital buildings in Banbridge.

The Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Ms Bairbre de Brún welcomed the New Opportunities Fund announcement.

The project, ‘Targeting Access to Services, Skills, Knowledge’ (TASSK) is multifaceted and aims to promote physical, mental and spiritual well being across six deprived areas of Craigavon and Banbridge.

Speaking at the announcement the Minister said: “I firmly believe that it is only through partnership working that we can address the health needs of communities. The impressive partnership of 19 organisations coming together for this particular project is, I believe, a strong indicator of the way in which we must address the health and well-being needs of local people. I know only to well how long it takes to put meaningful partnership arrangements in place and I congratulate all those who have been associated in bringing this project to fruition.

“The high level of community consultation, which I know was undertaken, was clearly evidenced in the application to the New Opportunities Fund. Addressing the needs of local communities requires dedication, enthusiasm and hard work. Above all, however, there needs to be a clear understanding of what it is that needs to be done. No-one knows better what those needs are than local people themselves – that is why it is vital to involve communities, and empower people to express their health needs, because unless this happens these initiatives won’t work.” (CD)