MARTIN McGuinness and Peter Robinson have announced a further round of projects are to be funded through the Social Investment Fund (SIF).
A further £13million will be invested in seven capital projects and two revenue projects, aimed at tackling poverty and deprivation by providing improved community services and facilities.
The Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: “The Social Investment Fund empowers local groups within the most deprived places of our community to provide tangible improvements to their areas and to significantly benefit people on the ground in their day-to-day lives.
“We are confident the projects announced so far will provide effective, outcome focused support to local people in the Social Investment Zones across a range of issues.
“Further work continues with the individual Steering Groups to develop and refine other projects. With well thought out and reasoned projects we can ensure the Social Investment Fund achieves maximum impact and delivers positive changes.”
First Minister Peter Robinson said: “I welcome this additional £13million investment in nine new projects to deliver the Social Investment Fund under our Delivering Social Change framework.
“Today’s announcement follows on from the first tranche of announced projects and now represents an allocation of over £50million from the Fund.
“We are investing considerable effort to progress further projects and we are determined to see the remaining £30million funds distributed in the coming months in schemes that will benefit those in our communities most in need.”
The nine projects announced today have been identified as priorities by Steering Groups in each zone. Letters of offer will issue to the successful projects following completion of verification and governance checks which are currently taking place. Work is ongoing to bring forward the remaining projects to approval stage.
1. The £80million Social Investment Fund (SIF) was established by the Executive to support communities to:
- build pathways to employment;
- tackle the systemic issues linked to deprivation;
- increase community services; and
- address dereliction.
2. The fund is being delivered in partnership with communities across nine Social Investment Zones. Each zone has a steering group with up to 14 members from the business, political, statutory and voluntary and community sectors. The Steering Groups developed plans which identify priority projects for each Social Investment Zone.
3. The nine projects are:
- Belfast North Zone – Increasing Community Services
- Belfast South Zone – Early Intervention
- Belfast West Zone – Impact Training
- Belfast West Zone – Argyle Business Centre
- Northern Zone – Employment through Education
- Northern Zone – OCN/Cookstown
- Southern Zone – Armagh Harps
- Western Zone – Halls Together Now
- Western Zone – Community Premises
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