Proposed pilot community conventions on the way

Social Development Minister, John Spellar today confirmedthe government’s commitment to the proposed pilot community conventions for Protestant working class communities.

Mr Spellar said the government’s commitment to supporting and developing local communities had been made clear through the many initiatives and actions in the period since suspension of the devolved institutions.

He said: “Earlier this year my predecessor, Des Browne, made clear the Government’s determination to help communities feeling marginalized and disadvantaged to overcome their particular problems and reap the benefits from the wider political and social improvements through the setting up of the Local Community Fund and through a process of transformation staring with a series of pilot community conventions.

“The community convention proposal came from elected representatives and community leaders in Protestant working class communities and reflects the positive community impact of the Shankill Community Convention held in May last year."

The Minister also confirmed that since June this year the Department for Social Development had worked closely with community leaders to develop the community convention idea.

Together they have commissioned specific work looking closely at what will be needed to support a number of pilots across different parts of the Province.

"This work is almost complete and once the details and findings have been considered and the way forward agreed with the community representatives and the communities concerned work will get underway to put the conventions in place with Government support," Mr Spellar concluded.

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