“The Newry Neighbourhood Renewal Area will be a safer place to live, where people respect and have pride in their neighbourhood, where education plays a central role in the development of young people, where residents have access to the best public services, where healthy lifestyles are fostered and promoted and where people develop and take full advantage of economic activity”
(Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership)
The Newry Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership was established in February 2005, as an advisory body to the DSD. It is an inter-sectoral partnership, tasked with driving the delivery of the Department’s ‘People and Place’ Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy within Newry. The Partnership comprises members from the statutory, community/voluntary and private sectors. Each of the nine social housing areas within the Neighbourhood Renewal boundary have active community associations in place and all are represented on the Partnership.
The organisations involved are as follows:
Community
Carnagat Area CA
Drumalane/Quayside Close CA
Threeways CA
Meadow & Armagh Road CA
Greater Linenhall CA
Barcroft CA
Ballybot CA
Derrybeg CA
Martins Lane CA
Statutory
Department for Social Development
Newry & Mourne District Council
Southern Education and Library Board
Southern Area Health and Social Care Trust
Southern Regional College
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Business
Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency
Voluntary Sector
Confederation of Community Groups
Elected Representatives
Cllr Charlie Casey
Cllr Gary Stokes
Cllr Jackie Patterson
What is Neighbourhood Renewal?
Neighbour Renewal is about closing the gap between the quality of life of life for people in the most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of society. Neighbourhood Renewal has adopted a long-term (i.e. 7–10 year) approach to practical and co-ordinated action at a local level and has four interlinking strategic objectives of:
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; and
Physical Renewal - to help create attractive, safe, sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods.
This method of delivery requires a joined up approach by all government departments and agencies to ensure that services are better co-ordinated, funding is used effectively and is spent in an integrated and co-ordinated way. It means that effective partnerships need to be created between those providing public services and local communities who rely on them.
The city of Newry with a population of approximately 30,000, has experienced significant regeneration over recent years. Unemployment has fallen steeply and there has been more sustainable, independent and wealth-generating business created within the area than any other part of Northern Ireland. Newry has become a vibrant and busy city attracting people from all parts of the island of Ireland. This is particularly evident in retail, as Newry is firmly established as a premier shopping location.
Despite this, approx 1/3rd of its residents experience deprivation and the challenge under Neighbourhood Renewal is to target the people and the areas with a positive, modern and consultative approach to addressing issues.
Impact of Neighbourhood Renewal
The Neighbourhood Renewal as an initiative has brought over £4.5 million of investment into Newry since its inception in 2005. This programme of Government has helped deliver a range of programmes and Capital projects, which have transformed the nine communities within the NR areas.
Through Education, Health, Community, Physical and Economic strands, local communities are availing of much needed resources.
Within education delivered by the SELB, numeracy and literacy skills have improved, local youth centres have acquired additional resources. A new family learning centre has been built at St Malachy’s School, a facility which offers opportunities for families to gain new skills and support their learning. Parent and toddler groups have been set up. Two new youth engagement workers have been employed and they will work closely with local communities to provide additional support for our young people.
A range of youth initiatives have been funded to include personal and social development programmes in Magnet YAC, St John Bosco and Threeways. There has also been the development of a youth initiative where young people based in the Magnet YAC have availed of training in various computer and software packages. They have now developed a youth news team who are reporting on the impact on NR in Newry.
The Southern Regional College has and continues to deliver an employability programme, offering accredited beauty classes, driving lessons and I.T.
In health delivered by SAHSCT a range of physical activity programmes have been delivered for all age groups. The Action Cancer Big Bus has been brought to local areas again supporting local need.
A range of training programmes are ongoing, Child Protection, First Aid, Defibrillator, Suicide awareness, B+ facilitator training and a programme exploring the impact of Obesity. A number of people have also attained training in Drug and Alcohol awareness and the ‘Choices’ and ‘Bout ye’ sexual health programmes have also been delivered to young people in the areas.
Within the community/physical strand supported by Newry and Mourne District Council and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, a number of Capital projects have been delivered. Playparks in Derrybeg, Mourneview and Martins lane. The Community house in Greater Linen hall has been refurbished and a new youth room built in the Meadow Armagh road community centre. Just recently the new Synthetic Pitch facility was opened in Threeways in High Street. There has also been a large infrastructure programme, upgrading the roads and footpaths in Carnagat, Derrybeg, Mourneview and Barcroft.
New fencing has been erected at Derrybeg and Drumalane/Quayside Close and the Derrybeg pitch has also received new perimeter fencing.
The Community associations have also enjoyed the Community renewal programme again managed by N& MDC where they have received the support of community workers employed by the Confederation of Community groups. They have also received running costs to help them maintain their centres and associations. The groups have also secured support through the sports and music programme where they have availed of a range of resources and equipment to support their programme of activity.
Within the Economic programme again managed by NMDC, the Newry and Mourne Enterprise agency have delivered the Work 4U project. A programme to look at the barriers to employment, the ISIS (integrated, special information system) identifying possible re-development sites and the Community Champions programme, identifying local community champions who can in some way support local communities.
The WIN business park has also received substantial investment to upgrade the conference facility to ensure the centre can meet future need.
All of these programmes have given the communities a new physical appearance and they have developed key skills for local people. The community associations in partnership with local agencies continue to offer these programmes and the current action plan has proposals for new Capital projects. However the uncertainty of funding and the proposed government cuts are sure to have an impact on all future projects but this partnership will work to deliver as best they can in the difficult times ahead.
For further information contact Mr Sean McKevitt, Neighbourhood Renewal Officer, Newry Town Hall, Bank Parade, Newry Co.Down
T : 02830257912 or e-mail sean.mckevitt@newryandmourne.gov.uk
