Major funding for Whiterock Children's Centre

The government has today announced the start of a major £0.5 million refurbishment of the Whiterock Children’s Centre in West Belfast.

The centre, which was set up in 1988, is a not-for-profit community organisation that offers affordable high quality childcare, family learning opportunities and NVQ level childcare training qualifications.

Welcoming the planned refurbishment, which has been supported by an investment of £380,000 from the Integrated Development Fund, Enterprise Minister, Maria Eagle MP said: “Once complete, the newly refurbished facility will allow the Children’s Centre to extend provision of its services and further strengthen the positive impact it has in the local community.

“By providing a safe environment for children to learn and play, while their parents are at work or taking part in training or education, the centre is contributing towards the economic and social renewal of some of the most disadvantaged areas of North and West Belfast.”

The planned refurbishment, which will transform over a quarter of the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education’s (BIFHE) Whiterock building into a purpose built child-friendly area, will provide an additional 34 childcare places for the centre, as well as maintaining the adult education service and formalising the special needs assessment offering.

Speaking at the announcement Jane Craven, Chairperson of the Whiterock Children’s Centre, said: “Finding adequate and affordable childcare is, for most people, a real obstacle when it comes to entering the job market or enabling them to return to adult education and training. Our centre was set up to help people overcome this barrier and improve the quality of life.

“I am delighted that funding has been made available for the refurbishment as it will allow us to increase both the quality and amount of support that we can give to the local community.”

The centre provides recognised child caring qualifications, cross-community programmes to help young mothers get back into education, as well as support and advice to minority ethnic families in the local area.

Finance Minister, David Hanson said: “The Integrated Development Fund was established by government to promote an integrated approach to local development. This refurbishment of the Whiterock Children’s Centre was one of 17 projects identified by the West Belfast and Greater Shankill communities for assistance under the fund and I am pleased that work on the building will soon get underway. This will provide jobs in the community, improve childcare facilities in the area and enable parents to gain further qualifications.”

Welcoming the announcement, John Simpson, speaking on behalf of the West Belfast & Greater Shankill Task Forces, said: “I am pleased that another of the key projects identified by the Task Forces has been approved and that work on the refurbishment is about to commence. This is a further step towards addressing the recognised economic and social problems faced by the local communities. I look forward to seeing implementation of the remaining Task Forces’ projects submitted to the fund.”

The National Lottery fund’s Building Quality Childcare Initiative has also given £155,000 to the project.

(EF/KMcA)