Executive provides further £10m for children

The Executive is to provide a further £10.1 million from its Children’s Fund to support new projects.

These projects will be aimed at improving the life chances and citizenship of vulnerable children and young people.

SDLP MLA Patricia Lewsley welcomed the initiative: "Too many children live in fear of abuse or are denied an opportunity to fully realise their potential. The type of projects announced will alleviate some of those problems – early intervention measures in schools and a new family centre in the Causeway area are examples of some good work can now start."

In all 14 projects will be supported, led primarily by Government Departments. This brings the number of Children’s Fund sponsored projects to 26 to date, and the total investment to date to more than £20 million.

The projects to be supported range from the replacement of outdated facilities, which care for young people at risk of absconding or from self harm, to support for foster carers, the Adoption Service, and for young people who find themselves in a carer’s role.

The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Dr Seán Farren announced the new projects. The Minister said: "The Executive is particularly pleased with the way in which the Children’s Fund is developing and the range of worthwhile projects which are being supported. As I indicated to the Assembly, today’s projects are just the beginning. We are already looking forward to receiving proposals from the voluntary and community sector in the autumn.

"I encourage that sector to seize this opportunity and to bring forward good quality projects for consideration. This use of the Executive Programme Funds demonstrates how the flexibility we have created within our budget can make a real difference to the people of Northern Ireland."

The Children's Fund is one of five Executive Programme Funds. It aims to support children in need and young people at risk and has already proved successful in providing specialist residential units, a school age mother’s programme, new counselling services for pupils, and improvements to the Youth Service.

(SP)