New Pilot Programme Of 100 Summer Camps Launches

A new pilot programme of 100 Summer Camps for young people has been launched.

First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said the programme will provide a range of opportunities for post-primary children to come together for academic and leisure purposes, delivered on a cross-community basis. This is one of the Headline Actions of the Together: Building a United Community Strategy published in May 2013.

First Minister Robinson said: "Together: Building a United Community is the Northern Ireland Executive's roadmap for improving good relations with four key priorities of our children and young people, our shared community, our safe community and, our cultural expression.

"We want to build a society which is based on fairness and opportunity for everyone. Our young people are key players not just in the present but in the future and we are determined to create opportunities for them to contribute to a shared and cohesive society.

"We have identified seven headline actions, one of which is the pilot programme of 100 Summer Camps in 2015, with the ultimate aim of building positive relationships across divided parts of our community."

Deputy First Minister McGuinness said: "Over the past decade our society has transformed and we have witnessed changes many people thought impossible. With stable political structures we can now work together to shape a society which will provide a solid foundation for peace and prosperity for all.

"Together we can build a society where equality of opportunity, the desirability of good relations and reconciliation are something that unite us rather than divide. Through these 100 summer camps our young people will be inspired and the sectarianism and segregation that has divided and held back our community and citizens will be eradicated forever."

(CD/JP)