Des Browne announces £250,000 for a Youth Development Programme in North Belfast - 24 March 2003

A £250,000 funding package aimed at supporting youth work across North Belfast, was announced today by the Minister with responsibility for community relations, Des Browne, MP.

The allocation follows the Minister’s decision in November 2002 to make £3 million available to develop communities in North Belfast to encourage dialogue and partnership.

Mr Browne said: "The North Belfast Community Action Unit has initiated a number of projects to encourage communities to work together in partnership and address local issues. I commend the Unit for its work in resolving conflict, creating new links and building trust between and within communities in North Belfast. I am delighted that the Unit will continue to build on the foundation it has already established within the North Belfast communities by developing a further Programme aimed at young people."

"This year’s Programme will build upon the lessons learnt from last year. It will focus on providing support for young people with particular emphasis on the 18-25 age group and also continue to encourage community groups to work together."

Welcoming the decision, Evelyn Cummins, Head of the North Belfast Unit, said: "The Programme will build upon the work implemented by our Unit last year to fund a range of activities to divert young people away from conflict and to promote the development of communities working in partnership. Today’s announcement of up to £250, 000 will contribute to the development and empowerment of young people in North Belfast and will provide the Unit with further experience in community capacity building."

Ms Cummins also commented that the Unit would continue to work in conjunction with other Departments, statutory providers and funding agencies to implement a Programme to assist in the development of youth services across North Belfast.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Des Browne announced the £3 million funding on 13 November during a visit to a north Belfast youth intervention project.

The £3 million funding allows for the development of a programme of community capacity building in North Belfast. An integral part of this programme is youth intervention.

Further information can be obtained from the:

North Belfast Community Action Unit,
Enterprise House,
55-59 Adelaide Street,
Belfast BT2 8FE,

Telephone: 028 9072 6014