Diver welcomes funding for Derry community and voluntary groups

The announcement that Derry community and voluntary groups are to benefit from £3 million funding released by the Department of Employment and Learning has been welcomed by Foyle SDLP MLA Gerard Diver. The Department has released match funding in line with European Social Fund grants awarded to projects which aid the unemployed and economically inactive. Derry groups set to benefit include Extern Group, Customised Training Services, People First, The Cedar Foundation, Now and Stepping Stones NI, Action Deaf Youth, Action Mental Health, Action on Hearing Loss (formerly RNID), RNIB, Mencap, Disability Action, Derry Youth & Community Workshop and Resource Centre, Derry. Mr Diver (pictured) said the funding would support more than 10,000 Northern Irish young people not in education, employment or training; 7,266 people with disabilities; 24,742 people who are unemployed or economically inactive; and 2,340 families with a high level of need to develop their capacity to reach their full potential in terms of education, training, health, social and economic issues. Mr Diver, the SDLP spokesperson on employment and learning matters, called on the Department to ensure the monies reach those organisations “as soon as possible.” He added: “Earlier this year my party colleague Pat Ramsey represented a large number of community groups who were being put to the wall due to the department failing to release awards they were due. “This led to issues with the retention of staff, clients, falling morale levels, deadlines, issues with creditors and a knock on effect, through no fault of their own, on delivery targets and dates. “It is a very challenging operating environment for community groups. “This is also true of those groups who will receive matching monies from the Department. “Therefore, I have urged the Department to ensure that these funds reach the community sector as soon as possible.” Mr Diver concluded: “I only hope this brings to a conclusion the rigmarole that has been the European Social Fund. This hopefully concludes what has been a long and difficult process for a large number of community groups and I welcome the fact that this funding.”