16 million for Rural Poverty
16million to help address rural poverty
Rural Development Minister Michelle O’Neill today said tackling rural
poverty and social isolation is a key priority.
The Minister was
speaking as she launched a new framework that aims to provide measures worth up
to 16million to support vulnerable people in our rural communities.
The Minister said: The
Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation framework and associated action
plan will help target the causes of social isolation and help those in poverty
in rural areas throughout the North. This is recognised as a priority area in
the recently published draft Programme for Government and the framework also
has a direct link to the Rural White Paper Action Plan.
The Minister
explained further: The framework will help support a range of activities
that will make a difference, most in collaboration with other stakeholders.
These will include: improving access to transport; maximising access to grants,
benefits and services; the rural support charity; rural community development;
fuel poverty schemes; a Health Checks programme; a Rural Youth Employability
Programme; a Rural Young Entrepreneurs Programme; a services for older people
project; a borewell requisition project; and a small grants programme.
It is through these
many interventions that our rural areas can continue to be sustainable. They
will also help support the most vulnerable who are often forgot about but can
make an enormous contribution to society.
The Minister made the
announcement at Opportunities for Older People (O4O), which is a community
organisation in Cookstown who actively promote the quality of life for older
people in the district through a series of
support services.
Margaret Gilmore MBE,
Chairperson of 040 said: “I know from first hand experience having
received a small grant through the Rural Challenge Programme in 2010, the
impact some small financial assistance can make on the lives of rural dwellers.
It provides them with a focus and a stimulus which reduces the impact of social
exclusion for those, in this case the elderly, that are most vulnerable.”
