The Southern Zone Social Investment Fund Steering Group is currently developing an Area Plan.
They are keen to engage with businesses to learn about local priorities, particularly in relation to employment, skills and business start-ups.
To facilitate this a business breakfast event is being held during in Newry in November.
Date: Monday 19 November, 8-9am
Venue: Southern Regional College, West Campus, Patrick Street, Newry
The Social Investment Fund (SIF) has been set up by the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver social change. It aims to make life better for people living in targeted areas by reducing poverty, unemployment and physical deterioration. The fund will run until 2015 and has been allocated £80 million by the Executive. SIF’s strategic objectives are to support communities to:
- Build pathways to employment – to increase employment opportunities by addressing things such as educational underachievement, lack of skills, access to jobs and making it appealing for businesses to start up in areas which have suffered deprivation;
- Tackle the systemic issues linked to deprivation such as health and crime;
- Increase access to community services; and
- Address dereliction.
The fund is being delivered across nine social investment zones. Each zone has a steering group with up to 14 members from the business, political, statutory and voluntary and community sectors. The Southern Social Investment Zone covers Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Dungannon & South Tyrone and Newry & Mourne Council areas. Further details of the Social Investment Fund, Steering Groups and eligible areas are available on the NI Direct website http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/the-social-investment-fund
In order to plan for catering, please register your attendance: info@wallaceconsulting.org or contact Joanne Wallace on 028 3839 4492. Please state your organisation & which event you are attending.
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