Funding boost for Cloona Oasis Centre

A project to develop retail and office units at the Cloona Oasis Centre in Poleglass is set to receive nearly £360,000 from the Department for Social Development (DSD).

The £357,985 funding has been provided by the Department's Belfast Regeneration Office (BRO), through the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy and will be used to develop 1.25 acres of land around Cloona House to provide six social workspace units for retail and office use by the local community.

The Cloona Oasis Centre already delivers a variety of activities and services from Cloona House including local community businesses, training, parenting skills, NVQ accreditation, counselling advice, and programmes for senior citizens and disabled people.

The new units will be available and affordable for local community groups and commercial organisations, helping to create a hub of community activity and enterprise in an area faced by social and economic disadvantage.

Announcing the funding, Social Development Minister David Hanson MP said: "The Cloona Oasis Centre already provides vital and varied professional services within the Colin Neighbourhood Renewal area. The new social workspace units to be built in the grounds of Cloona House will strengthen the services available to the local community and accommodate the needs of local commercial enterprise.

"This project meets the objectives of the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy: to give people in disadvantaged areas the infrastructure, skills and support that will enable them to improve their quality of life and prospects for the future."

The International Fund for Ireland is also contributing £225,000 to the project and Lisburn City Council is providing £115,015.

(EF)