Initiative to improve and 'advance' Ards social economy

‘Advance Ards’, a new initiative launched to help promote and develop the social economy in Ards, aims to assist community groups towards becoming community businesses.

The recent public launch at the Strangford Arms Hotel, was attended by the Chief Executive of Ards Business Centre Margaret Patterson, Ards Mayor Councillor Jim McBriar, Chair of the Local Strategy Partnership Tony McMullan, and Programme Manager Lisa Cunningham.

Afterwards, the public had the chance to put their questions to a panel of experts, representing groups such as the Social Economy Agency, Ards Local Strategy Partnership, WorkWest and Nuala Kerr, Acting Chief Executive of the EU Programmes Body.

Speaking at the launch, Mr McMullan said: "Social Economy is relatively new in the Ards Borough and its success will only be built on a firm foundation of community development. We are promoting this programme to provide the expertise and training needed and are confident that by assessing this foundation training these groupings will contribute significantly to the local economy as well as to their own stability."

The ‘Advance Ards’ programme is delivered by Ards Business Centre and funded by Ards Local Strategy Partnership through the European Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland. The foundation programme will offer tailored training and support to individuals and groups in enterprise awareness, with the aim to train people and provide them with the necessary skills to support local community initiatives and projects.

The programme incorporates a Project Officer with responsibility for working with the public at large. The role involves promoting community interest, encouraging new entrants, working in partnership with voluntary, community and private sector organizations and ultimately developing social economy projects with the potential to become community businesses.

Community groups who advance to the stage of community business start-up will be referred and supported through the Community Business Start Up Programme, in which grant aid will be made available to viable community businesses.

To find out more, offer your time and services, or to enroll your groups on the ‘Advance Ards’ programme, contact Programme Manager Lisa Cunningham at Ards Business Centre on tel. 028 91 819787 or email community@ardsbusiness.com or visit www.ardsbusiness.com .

(KMcA)