Neighbourhood renewal Xmas reminder for executive.

UNISON joined with community activists yesterday to deliver Xmas cards to 108 MLA’s at Stormont and remind them all before the end of Stormont business for the year of the crucial role of neighbourhood renewal funding in ongoing community development.

Neighbourhood renewal funding was originally established to facilitate a broad range of services supporting communities across the north in most dire need. Over 600 people are employed and the services provided make a positive impact on over 200,000 members of the public.

The Xmas card campaign is the culmination of a year of lobbying and campaigning to ensure that NR remains high on the Minister for Social development, Alex Attwoods, agenda. Whilst the minister has given consistent verbal assurances in the months of December that NR funding would be sustained in 2011 it is important to now lobby the entire executive to maintain this commitment.

The groups affected now await the final outcome of the budget and hope that all promises made in 2010 are honoured in the new year.