Ballee and Ballykeel to take a share in £185,000 DSD funds

Social Development Minister, Alex Attwood announced, last week, that the beneficiaries were - Ballee Childcare Services (41,886.71), a community sport project in Ballykeel and Ballee (26,826.81), Ballykeel Environment Action Team (BEAT) (49,000),the Ballykeel based Children’s High Intensity Play Services2 (CHIPS2) (56,000) and, also, funding (12,500) to employ a Community Co-ordinator for the Ballykeel area.

The funding for Ballee Childcare Services, in the Ballymena Neighbourhood Renewal Area, will provide pre-school play group places for 48 children daily and employ four full time staff. It will also provide an afterschool club accommodating 24 children daily which will employ three part time staff.

The funding award brings the total of Neighbourhood Renewal invested in Ballee Child Care Services to 421,849.

The aim of the project is to provide affordable childcare which will allow parents to return to employment or take advantage of education and training opportunities. It also

engages local children in personal, social, emotional and physical education at the earliest stage in a welcoming and secure environment.

Alex Attwood said: "Providing quality childcare is an important part of ensuring a solid foundation for the future. Our young people need to be nurtured and projects like this will help achieve that. I welcome this significant funding for a very worthwhile project for the people of Ballymena.”

A community sport project in the Ballykeel and Ballee areas of Ballymena will use their windfall to engage the residents of these communities and give them opportunities to participate in a range of sporting activities, improve community health and well being, develop relationships with local sports clubs and promote the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. The project will also offer Coach Education and Training to local community volunteers.

This funding award will bring the total resources dedicated to this project to a total of 145,848.01.

Announcing it, Alex Attwood said: " want to target resources in a way which has maximum impact and I want to work with communities to achieve that. This project will target the strategic objectives of community, economic and social renewal improving the quality of life for people in some of our most deprived neighbourhoods. It will help to increase voluntary activity, contribute towards healthier lifestyles and improve communications in this area of Ballymena.”

The project will contribute to community empowerment and partnership work between the community and other Sporting Clubs and also maintain a dedicated base of coach educated community volunteers who will assist in the running of this project.

The Minister also announced funding for Ballykeel Environment Action Team (BEAT) (NI) Ltd, Ballymena, a social economy project in the Ballykeel Neighbourhood Renewal Area.

Speaking about the cash boost, which will provide salaries for five people, Alex Attwood said: "This small local community business in the Ballykeel estate is of real importance for local people and I welcome the opportunity for my Department to offer support to the Board of BEAT (NI) Ltd at this time of financial difficulties.

"This community based company provides employment for local people and helps to combat local environmental problems. It helps provide a clean and safe place to live that the residents of Ballykeel Neighbourhood Renewal Area can be proud of."

The fourth local project to receive DSD funds, Children’s High Intensity Play Services2 (CHIPS2) based in Ballykeel, will use the cash for its Summer Scheme and After Schools Club to provide salaries for seven staff and provide places for up to 40 young people aged between five and 11 years.

It brings the total funding for the project to over 316,000.

Alex Attwood said: "This is great news for families in the Ballykeel area of Ballymena. The community based service will provide parents with additional child care support. This will enable them to increase their existing working hours and provide them with training, educational or working opportunities to improve their employability.

"This funding will help support a valuable service to the local community and provide employment for seven staff at a time of economic hardship”.

The Ballykeel area receives a further boost with 12,500 from DSD’s Neighbourhood Investment Fund to employ a Community Co-ordinator.

The Community Co-ordinator will help strengthen and support the development of voluntary and community groups in the Ballykeel estate. They will also provide assistance and guidance to residents and groups within the local Neighbourhood Renewal area by identifying and promoting training opportunities and helping with community projects.Alex Attwood said: “The funding will encourage and support the development of new and emerging groups in Ballykeel. I am positive it will lead to a more vibrant and stable community.

“By contributing to this project my department is demonstrating its commitment to improving the quality of life and social conditions for people living in the Ballymena area”.