31/01/2005

Spellar announces funding for community conventions

Social Development Minister John Spellar today announced that his Department is to provide £500,000 funding to allow community conventions to be held in Protestant working class areas.

Re-affirming the Government’s commitment to the pilot community convention initiative, Mr Spellar said the Government was determined to work with communities by encouraging the development at local level of the skills and leadership needed to help them grow and become more confident.

“I recently announced a comprehensive report on how public services in the Sandy Row area can be improved,” the Minister said. “Holding community conventions, which were suggested by elected representatives and community leaders from Protestant working class areas, is a further step in this process.

“I am delighted to announce that my Department will be funding the Community Convention and Development Company’s work on taking forward further community conventions.”

Mr Spellar said he was confident that conventions will contribute to the process of transformation through the development at local level of skills and leadership to help local communities become more confident and recognise the many opportunities open to them.

The funding will also cover the costs of the second Shankill Convention, held in September 2004, and three further conventions to be held in Protestant working class communities across Northern Ireland.

(MB)

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