Hargey welcomes £480,000 Covid funding reaching communities in need

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has welcomed an investment of almost half a million pounds for arts, culture and heritage projects in communities in need.

Hargey welcomes £480,000 Covid funding reaching communities in need

A total of £483,351 has been provided to 33 Neighbourhood Renewal Areas (NRAs) for a wide range of projects including helping local people create Covid memory plaques, street drama performances, kids’ clubs, online wood making and flower arranging classes and the production of a DVD to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Minister Hargey said:

“This funding will be used in innovative ways to benefit grassroots communities from the very youngest to our older members of society.

“It will allow people to find new ways of engaging with arts and culture to reduce isolation, support people struggling with mental health issues and improve general wellbeing.

“I am delighted that my department has been able to provide the funding to address the ongoing pressures on the community sector by providing support for new ways for arts and culture to engage and benefit grassroots communities.

“It is vital to support grassroots communities and those most marginalised, through engagement in community arts, culture and heritage projects which increases social inclusion and strengthens communities and social renewal.”

The funding will support a range of community groups within Neighbourhood Renewal Areas (NRAs) and allow people from our communities most in need to get involved in the delivery of a wide range of programmes and activities aimed at all age ranges, including specific programmes and activities tailored to engage with our ethnic minority communities, and support individuals with individuals with mental ill health, learning disabilities, autism and dementia.

Several programmes have been designed to engage local residents to showcase the rich history of the areas in which they live through projects focussing on notable people and places with specific historical or cultural significance to local communities.

The funding will also support the purchasing of goods including recording equipment, arts & crafts packs, Lego sets, dress up costumes and knitting materials.

Notes to editors: 

1. Contact DfC press office for case studies of projects which received funding.

2. People and Place - a strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal led to 36 deprived areas being chosen to receive support.

3. The funding is part of the Executive’s Covid support allocation to DfC in September 2020.

4. Media enquiries to DFC Press Office 

5. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

6. Follow us on Twitter @CommunitiesNI

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