Minister welcomes Fresh Start funding for community based projects

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has welcomed funding of almost £1million to ensure the continued delivery of her Department’s contribution to the Fresh Start initiative.

Minister welcomes Fresh Start funding for community based projects

The allocation of the one-year financial settlement was agreed by the cross-Executive Tackling Paramilitarism Criminality and Organised Crime Programme Board.

Commenting on the funding Minister Deirdre Hargey said: 

“I welcome the confirmation of a funding settlement which allows the important work of the cross-Executive Tackling Paramilitarism Criminality and Organised Crime Programme to continue. This funding will include almost £1million for Department for Communities based projects.

“My Department will deliver a range of projects at a grass roots level to enable young people, their families, carers, and women to develop skills, knowledge and confidence for personal and community development.”

The funding will enable the continuation of the Fresh Start through Community pilots promoting lawfulness, active citizenship and helping build capacity and relations within communities and will also present the opportunity for support to be provided in other areas of need.

The settlement will also allow the Department to deliver for women through the Developing Women in the Community programme which will target women of all ages in communities where paramilitary influence is prevalent.  This work will aim to equip and empower women to become involved in transformational community development, providing an element of family support and helping to support communities to move away from paramilitary and criminal influence. 

This programme is in the process of being finalised and it is hoped a further announcement will be made soon. In the interim, arrangements with current Women Involved in Community Transformation (WICT) delivery partners will continue.

Minister Hargey concluded:

“Communities have the local knowledge, the local expertise and they know what is needed to tackle this problem. It’s our job to support them and create the conditions where they can do this.”

Notes to editors: 

1. The Department for Communities has been awarded £981,000 to deliver these Fresh Start programmes for 2021/22
2. Media enquiries to DfC Press Office via email 
3. Executive Information Service operates an out of hour’s 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.
4. Follow the Department on @CommunitiesNI

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