Givan announces new £450,000 West End Community Centre in Enniskillen

Communities Minister Paul Givan MLA has announced funding of almost £450,000 to deliver a permanent community centre for the West End area in Enniskillen.

The Department for Communities will contribute almost £350,000 to the project with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council providing funding of £100,357. The Council will also manage delivery of the project with construction at the site expected to begin in September 2016. 

The new venue will allow the community groups who form the West End Partnership to continue with a programme of activities for all age groups, in particular older people who make up a large percentage of the West End population. A programme for local youth will also be developed to tackle anti–social behaviour and promote personal development.

Making the announcement Minister Givan said: “This project will provide real and significant benefits to all the residents across the West End. The area will now benefit from the development of a custom designed facility which will accommodate a wide range of social and community activities and build on the success of the current temporary facility which has been in use since 2011.

“I am delighted that, along with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, that my Department can deliver this new facility which will be of great benefit to all and will help create a more socially inclusive, empowered and sustainable community infrastructure.”

The Minister continued: “The provision of this funding brings the total amount of my Department’s investment in Enniskillen from its Neighbourhood Renewal Fund to £7.1 million and shows our commitment to improving the quality of life and social conditions for all people living in the town and surrounding areas.”

The new facility will increase the size of the centre to 330m2 to include a large multi purpose room, a training room, office space and car parking. This will permit the West End Partnership to increase the range of activities on offer and widen participation in classes and programmes. In addition, the centre will also be made more accessible for those with disabilities.

Chairperson of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Mary Garrity, said: “The Council welcomes this investment to the local area which will provide a multi-use recreational space that will meet the needs of the local community. We look forward to working with the West End Partnership in taking this project forward.”

Notes to editors: 

1. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy ‘People and Place’ was published in June 2003 to close the gap between the quality of life for people in the most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of society. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy has four interlinking strategic objectives

   - Community Renewal – to develop confident communities that are able and committed to improving the quality of life in their areas

   - Economic Renewal – to develop economic activity in the most deprived neighbourhoods and connect them to the wider urban economy

   - Social Renewal – to improve social conditions for the people who live in the most deprived neighbourhoods through better co-ordinated public services and the creation of safer environments

   - Physical Renewal – to help create attractive, safe and sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods

2. Departmental investment in the project totals £349,108.66 with a further £100,357 committed by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. Total project costs £449,465.66 
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