New North Down YMCA premises will pave the way for transformation of Queen’s Parade: Morrow

Minister for Social Development, Lord Morrow MLA, has officially opened the new North Down YMCA building in High Street, Bangor.

Minister Lord Morrow MLA, pictured with Koulla Yiasouma, Children's Commissioner and Michael McDowell enjoying a game of pool at the official opening of the new North Down YMCA building in High Street, Bangor.

DSD funded the £426,250 alteration and renovation of the three storey property to provide a modern multi-functional community building suitable for the delivery of North Down YMCA’s wide range of programmes.

Speaking at the official opening Minister Morrow said: “Today’s visit has allowed me to see firsthand the work my Department does to regenerate our urban towns and cities. This fantastic new space is the
culmination of hard work by the YMCA in partnership with DSD to transform a previously vacant building in the heart of Bangor into a high quality facility. This newly refurbished community resource will provide a
welcoming environment for people of all ages across Ards and North Down who access the wide range of programmes delivered.”

As part of the comprehensive development scheme along Queen’s Parade in Bangor, the YMCA agreed to sell its premises to the Department for Social Development (DSD) and relocate to new premises close by in High
Street. At the time North Down YMCA was operating out of premises at 39 Queen’s Parade which is situated within the development boundary for the Queen’s Parade scheme.

Minister Morrow continued: “The Queens Parade development is pivotal in restoring Bangor’s reputation as a key tourist and shopping destination and for injecting new life into the area. The new YMCA premises
are an exciting start to this transformation of Bangor and will help pave the way for future projects. The YMCA is to be commended for its positive approach to change and for its vision to see what this major
regeneration scheme will mean to the people of Bangor and the North Down area.”

Notes to editors: 

1. North Down YMCA is a charitable organisation which delivers a wide range of personal and social education programmes to people of all ages across Ards and North Down. Its new multi-functional facility comprises a reception / welcome area; crèche; IT suite; games area; training and meeting rooms; office space; and multi- functional space.
2. North Down YMCA delivers 5 core programme areas:
   · Youth Provision - providing centre-based, outreach and targeted support for young people, aged 7 to 25.
   · Tenant Support Service - which supports people aged 16 to 64, to maintain independent living.
   · Harbour Renewal Project - supporting indigenous and migrant people of all ages, living in Bangor’s Harbour Ward, a small pocket of deprivation area in central Bangor.
   · Health work - provides intensive one-to-one and group work support to vulnerable males, and Youth Health Advice Service to young people attending SERC Bangor.
   · Families Together - works with parents, carers and children, living in areas of social need around Bangor, in order to improve educational attainment, health outcomes and parenting capacity.
3. Photos from the Minister's visit can be viewed later at Flickr
4. For media enquiries please contact the DSD Press Office on 028 90829496 or alternatively you can email press.office@dsdni.gov.uk. For out of hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned. 

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