Group facing financial crisis

Representatives from Bovally Community Association's 'Stronger Together' project, who work throughout the Bovally and Roe Valley areas, say unless the project receives additional funding in March it will not be able to continue its beneficial work. The Department of Social Development gave the pilot project the go ahead in March 2008 and provided two years worth of funding for three posts. A youth worker, administrator and older generation worker have been working throughout the area, officially classified as 'at risk', for the last 23 months and are all set to lose their jobs unless additional money is injected. Project managers say the area is likely to deteriorate without the benefit of the project which has seen crime, vandalism and anti-social behaviour reduce rapidly since it's induction.

Eleanor Coyle, Project Co-ordinator for Stronger Together says the loss of the area's community workers would be a big blow for those that live there.

Eleanor says: "The Stronger Together project has worked between the Bovally and Roe Valley areas for almost two years and provided a crucial service to the residents that live there. Our community workers have delivered a number of multi-generational events and provided a lot of care and support to residents."

"Classified as an area at risk, those living in the locations that our community representatives work in have a lower life expectancy, have more health problems and suffer poor community spirit. It would be a shame to lose the much needed support of the project which has boosted the confidence of many people in the area."

"There is also a fear that it will be hard to maintain the grassroots approach that has help secured so many benefits for the area from local agencies. This will certainly be harder to sustain without full time members of staff."

DUP Councillor Alan Robinson, who is backing the projects crusade for funding, says he has organised a number of meetings with local agencies to explore the prospect of extra funds for "magnificent" project.

Councillor Robinson said:"In early January I was approached by the 'Stronger Together Project' regarding a rapidly approaching crisis in their funding. This project has seen many beneficial improvements in the areas of Roe Valley and Bovally in Limavady including events designed to create community cohesion, respect for all age groups in society, pride in the residents surroundings and to develop links with other groups in Limavady."

"The project has only been running two years and has already seen a reduction in anti-social behaviour and crime – proof positive of the immense contribution the project has been to the areas."

Councillor Robinson continued: "Funding was available under the DSD Areas at Risk scheme, due to the multiple indicators of deprivation, and this year sees funding due to stop in March. While not the sole funder, the DSD contribution is essential, to ensure continuation of the improvements already witnessed in the area."

"I have already arranged meetings with some of the local agencies involved, and Ald George Robinson MLA has written to the DSD Minister seeking her assistance in continuing the funding, especially as she has seen the area at first hand when she visited the area at my invitation."

"I cannot begin to state how important it is that funding is found for this project. I commend the one full time and one part time members of staff, for the excellent and hard work that they have done. It would be an absolute disaster if this project was forced to close or downscale due to lack of funding after such magnificent achievements."