Rathgill Community Association has established a Learning Resource Centre, funded under Priority III of the EU programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Countries. This aims to assist individuals to break down the barriers that are preventing them in moving forward in society, whether these barriers are employment, social or health issues.

Karen Worrall, Community Development Officer for the Community Association, said: "Rathgill Community Association have worked extremely hard to get to this point and would like to thank North Down Local Strategy Partnership, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the Department of Social Development’s Local Community Fund, North Down Community Network and North Down Borough Council for the support and funding that has made this work possible.

"The community are now in the position were their needs have been heard and programmes are now being drawn up to meet these needs.

"The Learning Resource Centre is a prime example of how European and DSD funding are benefiting the North Down Area. Rathgill Community Association would like to extend an invitation to anyone that wishes to visit the centre to see firsthand the work that is happening. "

A project to transform two murals in Bangor’s Rathgill estate into community paintings expressing hopes for peace and reconciliation has been launched by the Rathgill Community Association, with the support of the Department for Social Development.

The painting of the new community murals is the first step in the creation of a community garden around the Rathgill Community Flat. An Open Day was held to celebrate the completed garden and the successful completion of several IT and Lifeskills programmes.

Dave Wall, Director of the Voluntary and Community Unit at the Department for Social Development, congratulated those involved in the initiative, which is part of a larger £30k Intergenerational Project funded by the Department’s Local Community Fund, which aims to develop greater community capacity and local leadership in areas of disadvantage.

He said: "The Department is delighted to support the efforts of the Rathgill Community Association. This project is an excellent example of the community identifying local issues and priorities and working in partnership with others to make a real difference to their area. The Rathgill area will also benefit from the Local Community Fund next year, which will allow them to build on their successes of the past two years."

The North Down Neighbourhood Partnership Board launched a consultation in Rathgill during the Community Open Day. This gave residents an opportunity to express their views on their vision for the next ten years and will be the basis for action plans.

The Local Community Fund was launched by the Department for Social Development in February 2003 aimed at improving the capacity and leadership in communities of weak infrastructure throughout Northern Ireland. The Rathgill area was allocated £32k during 2003/04 and a further allocation of £32k has been made available for 2004/05. Contact person: Tracey McCloskey (028) 9082 9420.

The Intermediate Funding Body which administers and manages the Fund on behalf of the Department in North Down is North Down Local Strategy Partnership. Contact person: Jan Nixey (028) 9127 8028.

Mr Hanson said: "Rathgill Community Association is an excellent example of how local residents can help to break down the barriers that are preventing them from moving forward in society.

"With financial assistance from the Local Community Fund and support from North Down Local Strategy Partnership, the Association is transforming the Rathgill neighbourhood, establishing a resource and learning centre that has become a focal point where local people can meet friends and neighbours, get advice, improve their skills, relax and let their children play safely.

NDAI have been working in partnership with Rathgill since 2003.  Training has been funded by the NDAI Community Development Fund and the Local Strategic partnership under Peace II and the Department of Social Developments Local Community Fund. 

Computer and Craft classes accredited thorough the Open College Network have proven very successful, fifty local people have participated recently and a number have gained employment as a result.

Kieron O’Loane, Head of Community Education with NDAI commented ‘we value the great working relationship with Rathgill Community association.’  NDAI recognises the need for training in community venues and with Community Education this is started at a grass roots level, enabling and empowering communities whilst rebuilding confidence and self-esteem in the individual.   This provides a vital stepping stone into Further and Higher Education and Employment.

North Down Local Strategy Partnership report that the LCF Funding has had a significant impact in the North Down Borough Council area ‘‘We have a project running in the Rathgill area, which involves the refurbishment and equipping of a Learning and Resource Centre. There is a cocktail of funding going into this project including Peace2, LCF and VCU funding. The newly established community group have also benefited from IT training and a capacity building residential to gel the group and training them in the use of the PCs funded by the LCF. The impact of the LCF funding in the area has been enormous as it has moved from a position where there has been very little community activity to an area where people are beginning to take a real interest and become involved. Increasing particpant numbers in the Learning and Resource Centre reflect this…this project would be an ideal model of one which has added value to the area of benefit and it also is something tangible which promotes partnership working between agencies and the community at a local level
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Rathgill Community Association

Contact Information : Karen Worrall (028) 9147 7602.