Community Environment Awards

To download your application pack for the community environment awards go to the www.westbelfast-partnership.com

Minister for Employment and Learning meets Graduate Interns

The Minister for Employment and Learning Sir Reg Empey attended a showcasing event at the offices of DEL, along with 8 Graduate Interns based in West Belfast and 32 others working in North, South, East and Greater Shankill. The event was to promote the work the interns have been doing in various community based organisations throughout the city and to highlight the benefits of the 26 week intern programme run by DEL in connection with the 5 Belfast Area Partnerships. The intern programme has given graduates from various professions the chance to gain invaluable experience at a time when many students are coming out of University with very few job opportunities available. The interns praised the programme and invited the Minister and the Department to support it’s continuation.

West Belfast Interns and their organisations:
James Scott: Ortus Business Development Agency – Business Development
Nicola Gunn: Springboard – Community Development
Clare Bailey: Lenadoon Neighbourhood Partnership – Community Development
Sarah Jayne Miskelly: Belfast Arts and Events Company – Events Officer
Bronagh Diamond: Direct Links Transport – Marketing Officer
Elizabeth Statham: West Belfast Partnership Board – Regeneration Assistant
Gillian Truesdale: West Belfast Partnership Board – Web Design
Máire Sweeney: Belfast Area Partnership Boards – Development Officer

West Belfast Neighbourhood Partnership discuss impact of budget cuts with Minister for Social Development

West Belfast Neighbourhood Partnerships discuss impact of budget cuts with Minister for Social Development
Recently appointed Minister for Social Development, Alex Attwood MLA, dropped into the offices of West Belfast Partnership Board to meet with community leaders from across West Belfast on Wednesday 23 June. The Minister heard from the community groups about the very valuable community programmes throughout the West of the city, which provide much needed childcare, job creation, youth and counselling services.

On the tip of everyone’s tongue was the announcement of swingeing budget cuts in London and community leaders were concerned that this would translate into a loss of services in the west of the city. The Minister said that he believed in being straight and honest with community organisations, and he was of the view that the Northern Ireland Executive would have no alternative but to make cuts and that his Department would have to take cuts as well – this would no doubt impact on local community based services, and on housing provision and urban regeneration.
In discussions with the Minister, the neighbourhood partnerships said they understood that budget cuts are inevitable, but they took the view that community services in west Belfast which target disadvantage and lift people out of poverty, should be protected. The Minister undertook to defend community services in west Belfast, and across the north, as best he could. The Neighbourhood partnerships are now seeking a meeting with MP Gerry Adams to seek his support for the protection of community services.

Contact Us ….

CONTACT US ..

West Belfast Partnership Board 218 – 226 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 6AH

Telephone: 02890809202

Email: info@wbpb.org

Facebook – West Belfast Partnership

Aisling Bursary Awards 2010

The Aisling Bursaries 2010 Breakfast Launch, with the West Belfast Partnership Board and the Belfast Media Group, was held on Friday 4th June in An Cultarlann, with Guest Speaker Mr Gerry Adams MP MLA. The initiative provides bursaries to support full-time and part-time students from West Belfast through Further and Higher Education.
Supporting local students
Launched in March 2000, the Aisling Bursaries are designed to help West Belfast students defray their education and training costs. All applications are considered, with special consideration given to candidates who have significant barriers preventing them from realising their full potential through education, for example economic or family circumstances.
Providing financial assistance to students from West Belfast is the main aim of this bursary programme. Some bursaries are specifically for those participating in vocational training or a subject specific course of study relevant to the sponsor’s area of business or interest.

Community Environment Awards 2010 ..

 

The West Belfast Partnership’s annual Community Environment Awards was launched on 8th June in the fitting surroundings of the scenic Falls Park Pavilion. Now in its eighth year, the successful initiative has grown from strength to strength, recognising the local environmental achievements of projects from across the west of the city.