Kilclief GAC is soon to benefit from £80,000 of grant funding awarded by Mourne, Gullion and Lecale (MGL) Rural Development Partnership for the creation of a community hub at their existing premises on the outskirts of Strangford.
The MGL funding comes from the Basic Services Scheme of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ (DAERA) Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. Delivery of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme is administered by MGL, on behalf of DAERA, under the LEADER approach with local people making the decisions on funding.
The funding, along with a significant contribution from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, will enable Kilclief GAC to transform an existing disused basement space to accommodate an indoor gym with adjoining changing and toilet facilities. There will also be space for a meeting/function room, an IT studio and a coffee dock, which will complement the club’s existing offering. People of all ages and abilities in the wider Kilclief community will be able to avail of a wide range of cross-community activities within the new community hub.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Vice Chairperson, Councillor Terry Andrews said, “The Council welcomes the creation of a community hub in Kilclief. The enhanced facilities will provide the wider community with the opportunity to avail of new services which may otherwise be unavailable to them.”
Chairperson of MGL Rural Development Partnership, Councillor Roisin Mulgrew welcomed the funding. She said, “It is fantastic to see the benefits Rural Development funding can bring to rural communities. Mourne, Gullion and Lecale Rural Development Partnership is delighted to approve Kilclief’s community hub project, providing access to rural basic services for the people of the area.”
Jerome Burns, Contract Manager, DAERA said, “The Leader Programme, through which this project will be funded, enables local people to determine the needs of their own area and decide how best to address these. This is an excellent example of how the Programme is enabling local decisions to be made for the benefit of the rural community in Kilclief. I have every confidence that Kilclief GAC, with its extensive number of dedicated volunteers and committee members, will enable this project to reach its full potential and be a resounding success for the future”.
For more information on Mourne, Gullion and Lecale Rural Development Partnership and its funding schemes visit: www.mournegullionlecale.com
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