An oppurtunity for rural funding
02 September 2006
One of the greatest challenges in getting an equitable distribution of EU Peace money has been in securing an adequacy of supply to the rural Unionist community. A contributory cause has been that in many instances the condition of rural halls made them unsuitable for community events, not least given health and safety requirements. Thus a programme facilitating capital works to provide, for example, toilet and disability facilities, has long been required.
The fact that in many areas Church and Orange Halls are the focal community facility seemed to add to the resistance of some in officialdom to finding a solution. At last, however, a fledgling scheme has been put in place which has the potential to bring real benefit and unlock a flow of much needed funding into rural community work. I refer to the recently announced programme, “Maximising Community Space”, which is a Rural Halls Scheme sponsored by the Rural Development Council, with whom I have held useful meetings.
Under this scheme £1M is available for a pilot scheme to fund both events in 30 rural halls and, where necessary, underwrite capital works necessary to bring halls up to modern standards. The funding is divided between supporting a programme of development assistance for groups and the second aspect, which will provide grants of up to £40,000 for improvement of hall facilities.
I urge those with responsibility for eligible rural halls to pursue this opportunity by making application to RDC for funding before the deadline of 27 September 2006. If my office can assist, then we are happy to do so (Tel: 90655011).
If this pilot project is a success, then a sound basis will exist to lobby Government for further funding, so that the scheme can be extended to assist more groups and halls. It is important that the unionist community, both urban and rural, intensifies its community activity and discovers, like others, that community strength can result. There are now many groups making positive strides, not least Orange Community Network, which are instilling fresh confidence, initiative and hope into a community which has lagged behind too long. This Rural Halls Scheme can help and should be fully utilised.
On the wider issue of the shape of PEACE III, it is critical that this reduced pot of money is spent in a more focussed fashion, with the emphasis on economic betterment, rather than wasted again on transient froth. This certainly has been the thrust of my representations, both in Belfast and Brussels.
