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On the 17th February 2009 Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie announced a multi-million pound funding package for Neighbourhood Renewal projects in some of Northern Ireland’s most disadvantaged communities.“I believe our communities, particularly our most disadvantaged communities, deserve the best possible services to address the inequalities they face. Even in the current recession, it is no longer good enough to talk about protecting jobs in the community and voluntary sector. My focus is squarely on service delivery; people working in community and voluntary organisations need to demonstrate that they also have that sense of purpose.”The Minister concluded: “The approach I am leading is joined up government at the community level and I will be doing all that I can to ensure that every Department and Agency measures up to the challenge.”The ‘Neighbourhood Renewal’ experience has been extremely challenging in respect to delivering change at a local area level. The need for inter-departmental co-operation has resulted in a long drawn out developmental period which appears to be ‘process intense’ as opposed to ‘action focused’. The experience in Northern Ireland is similar to experiences elsewhere in the United Kingdom. This one day conference will help to explore the problems and opportunities associated with delivering neighbourhood area change, to learn from others in respect to different approaches and to begin discussions around what ‘Community Planning’ might look like, if and when local authorities are provided with ‘lead responsibility’Minister Sammy Wilson, Department of the Environment welcomed the conference and its timing. “My department has been working with our local government partners to help ensure a smooth transition of powers and budgets as envisaged under RPA. One critical role which the 11 new local authorities will play will be to produce community plans for each area defining local need and local solutions. This approach requires the full support of government and ultimately will only produce results when government departments, local government and local communities are working together, off the same strategic framework.”The conference format is based upon input from experts and practitioners alike from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and the Republic of Ireland. Each will bring their own unique understanding of the problems to be addressed and how best to meet local need. Minister Margaret Ritchie, Department for Social Development and Minister Sammy Wilson, Department of Environment will address the Conference on the future of neighbourhood renewal and community planning.
WHO SHOULD ATTENDThe conference is essential for those in the public sector with service delivery responsibilities, local government officials and members who will be taking on ‘Community Planning’ responsibilities under current Review of Public Administration proposals, and key voluntary and community sector organisations with a role in ensuring local needs are met.
HOW TO REGISTERPlease log on to our website at www.cesi.org.uk for full information on how to book on to attend this Conference.