New play facilities at Kids Together Belfast
Date published:
The Department for Communities has welcomed the official opening of refurbished play facilities at Kids Together Belfast in West Belfast, which are being launched in memory of Nathan Doyle.
The Department contributed £112,127 to the redevelopment of these facilities, which were delivered on our behalf by Belfast City Council.
The Department’s investment came from the Building Successful Communities (BSC) programme. One of the aims of the Programme is to target ways to bring physical, economic and social regeneration to each of the BSC areas. This project meets that aim by enhancing the play area at Kids Together Belfast to provide safer facilities which meet the needs of children and young people with disabilities, having a positive impact on their growth, development and physical wellbeing.
Seamus Hillock from the Department for Communities said: “Lenadoon and Glencolin is one of six areas that are included in the Building Successful Communities pilot programme. One of the things we are aiming to achieve with this programme is to improve the local environment through upgrading and improve access to amenities in order to unlock physical and social regeneration. This project was identified by the Lenadoon and Glencolin Regeneration Forum as being a priority for the area. The Department is pleased to have been able to deliver on one of the priorities for the area. We wish Kids Together Belfast every success with their new facilities.”
Pamela Hughes Project Management Kids Together Belfast said: “Kids Together Belfast was extremely fortunate to receive funding from Building Successful Communities to transform our outdoor area. With the secured funding we were able to get an all-inclusive playground to service our organisation.
“As Kids Together Belfast is a community organisation that provides support services for children and young people with disabilities and their families, this designed area has been a godsend. The outdoor space now includes a basket swing, a wheelchair assessable roundabout, climbing frame, planters, sandpit and sit on rockers not to mention the wet pour rubber surface to make the playground safe.
"The children and young people with disabilities that use our services have had a brilliant time in their new play space and it already looks like it has always been here. Kids Together Belfast’s Youth Group added their own special touch to the space by designing and painting the walls.
“Thank-you to everyone who worked tirelessly to design, build and construct the playground and we can guarantee this addition to our service will be well used and abused!”
Notes to editors:
- Lenadoon & Glencolin area is one of six pilot areas that have been selected by the Department to be offered intervention under the Building Successful Communities (BSC) Programme, five areas in Belfast and one in Ballymena
- A Regeneration Forum has been established in each of the pilot areas which is comprised of statutory organisations, local community and elected political representatives. The Lenadoon & Glencolin Forum identified the provision of these play facilities as a priority for the area
- More information on the BSC Pilot Programme is available
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