North Belfast communities to benefit from £1.25m funding

North Belfast is to receive an additional £1.25 million to help develop the confidence of local communities and to tackle disadvantage, DSD Minister David Hanson said today.

The money will support the continuation of the work of Community Empowerment Partnerships which are raising the ability of local people to engage more effectively with government to improve the quality of life in their areas.

This is being achieved by a range of initiatives, including education and skills programmes, community relations training, leadership development, health and wellbeing activities, environmental improvements and youth work such as sports, cultural awareness and personal development.

David Hanson said: “Community Empowerment Partnerships are making real differences to neighbourhoods across North Belfast. I believe that it is important for the momentum of their work to be sustained. I have therefore agreed to make £1.25 million available to extend funding for the capacity building programme until September 2006.

“The North Belfast Community Action Unit has now been operating for three years. I have appointed Dick Mackenzie, a former Deputy Secretary in the Department of the Environment who has a background in Planning and Urban and Community Development, to lead an evaluation of its work. He will consult widely with a range of stakeholders in this exercise. The evaluation will make recommendations on how the work of the Unit will be delivered in the future and how it can complement other Government strategies such as Neighbourhood Renewal.”

(SP/GB)