21/03/2006

Government bonus for north Belfast family centre

The Department for Social Development (DSD) has today awarded a £70,000 bonus to the Wishing Well Family Centre in North Belfast, as part of its Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

The Centre will provide a range of essential services to the North Belfast Community for children, parents and senior citizens living in the Ardoyne, Alliance and Glenbryn areas, which will include education and training courses, childcare, parenting skills, housing and benefits advice.

In 2001, the DSD's Belfast Regeneration Office, in partnership with the National Lottery and the Belfast European Partnership Board invested £400,000 into the new Wishing Well premises.

Speaking on today's announcement, Social Development Minister, David Hanson said: “The Department for Social Development wants to ensure that people living in deprived areas have access to opportunities that improve their prospects. That is why we are supporting The Wishing Well Family Centre.

“It provides much needed services to people living in neighbourhoods which have suffered from high levels of social, economic and physical disadvantage."

The Minister concluded by saying that the Centre will make a major contribution to developing and strengthening the ability and confidence of local residents to make a better life for them and their families.

(EF/SP)

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