Regeneration in hands of local people says Hanson

Real progress is being made by local people to improve life in the mainly loyalist Tullycarnet estate, Social Development Minister David Hanson said today during a visit to the East Belfast area.

Mr Hanson made the visit following the recent establishment of a high level 'Delivery Team' to address the needs of disadvantaged loyalist communities.

Some of the initiatives being undertaken in the area include a Nurture Group to help increase the achievements of pupils in Tullycarnet primary school, a Healthy Neighbourhood Project and plans to develop leisure, retail and business facilities.

"Deprived neighbourhoods face a daunting range of social problems, which can have a disproportionate effect on the quality of life for local people and must be tackled to make a real change for the better," Mr Hanson said.

"No one organisation can deal with all of the issues and that is the essence of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. The regeneration schemes and projects that have the greatest impact are those where the community is actively involved. There must be real partnership between the community and government. This must extend to the wider statutory sector, particularly district councils."

Since 2002, the Department for Social Development's Belfast Regeneration has provided funding of almost £300,000 to the Tullycarnet Community Forum which runs two local playgroups and the Healthy Neighbourhood Project.

The Nurture Group has benefited from over £100,000 from DSD since 2003. Tullycarnet has also received £187,000 under the Department's Local Community Fund for a range of activities from a mental health befriending scheme to the provision of a fully equipped IT training facility.

The Minister said it was important that Government’s efforts in addressing the needs of disadvantaged loyalist communities, "whilst considerable", benefit from better co-ordination with services more closely connected to those communities.

(MB/SP)