Council call out for rural community capital projects
02 February 2023
The Faughan, Sperrin and Derg Growth Partnership Boards of the Derry City and Strabane District Council area are looking to engage with the community and voluntary sector in the rural District Electoral Areas of Faughan, Sperrin and Derg in an effort to get a wider understanding of the level of capital projects being taken forward.
The Growth Partnership Boards have secured £90,000 to help local communities to bring their capital projects to a funding-ready stage. On the Boards’ behalf, Council has commissioned JM Consulting (NI) to look at the various capital projects that are being led by the community sector in these DEAs with a view to providing some technical support to help bring them forward.
As part of this initiative, 15 projects in these rural areas are to be prioritised. While Council is not in a position to provide any funding for these capital projects, the purpose of the initiative is to offer technical support to community organisations that would assist them in bringing the projects closer to being funding ready.
Among the support mechanisms available will be the provision of technical advice and assistance such as business case development, feasibility studies, architect drawings and quantity surveyance.
JM Consulting will also work with the rural community sector organisations to help identify relevant funding e.g. from central government or other sources.
Community organisations in the rural areas are invited to fill out an expression of interest form which is currently available on www.derrystrabane.com/Subsites/Rural/Rural-Development-Support and return it by 14th February at 12 noon.
In an effort to assist the community sector with this process, the Growth Partnership Boards are also hosting a series of roadshows and information sessions across a number of rural locations in February.
They include: the Diamond Centre in Claudy on Monday 6th February, from 7-9pm; Learmount Community Centre in Park on Tuesday 7th February from 7-9pm and Newtownstewart Centre 2000 in Newtownstewart on Wednesday 8th February from 7-9pm. Please register your attendance in advance, stating which roadshow you will attend by emailing jmconsultingni@outlook.com
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Sandra Duffy is encouraging community groups in the rural DEAs to get involved. She said it is a unique opportunity for rural communities to get their capital projects scoped out and ready should a funding opportunity come available.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for community groups in rural areas to get some specialist technical advice and assistance with their capital projects that will put them in a good position to avail of any funding opportunities that come up. It will help community groups be in a very strong position to take forward their capital project plans and deliver for their communities and I would encourage all community groups in these DEAs to avail of this opportunity and register an expression of interest.”