Pre-consultation on Social Investment Fund

The pre-consultation document sets out the high level concept and strategic priorities of the Fund as well as detailing the areas that it will cover.

The discussion document outlines:

"the aim of the Social Investment Fund is to reduce poverty, unemployment and physical deterioration in areas.  This programme will address the problems of poverty through targeted employment and investment programmes and securing support from the business community and other organisations. The programme will also include improving the physical environment, linking areas to economic hubs and improving capacity and employability within communities."

"To tackle the complex, multi-dimensional, nature of deprivation in an integrated way the Social Investment Fund will support communities to: 

• Build Pathways to Employment by tackling educational under achievement and barriers to employment; tackling skills deficits and promoting jobs brokerage, widening access to the labour market, promoting business start up and social enterprise.
• End dereliction and promoting investment in the physical regeneration of deprived communities.
• Increase community services by regenerating and refurbishing existing facilities and providing play facilities and environmental improvements.
• Tackling the systemic issues linked to deprivation including poor mental and physical health (suicide and self harm, young mothers), substance abuse, community safety, children and young people at risk, physical health and enhancing community capacity, confidence and partnership working to end deprivation."

The Fund will create eight Social Investment Zones covering

 i. Greater North Belfast CEP areas
ii. West Belfast and Shankill Taskforce Area
iii. Greater East Belfast, North Down and Ards
iv. Greater South Belfast and Laganvalley
v. Derry/Londonderry and greater North West (potentially 2 zones)
vi. Antrim area (to include areas in Antrim Town; Ballymena; Carrickfergus and Larne)
vii. North Armagh ( to include areas in Craigavon, Lurgan and Portadown)
viii. Border (including areas across Newry and Mourne, Armagh City, South Armagh; Fermanagh South Tyrone and West Tyrone)

OFMdFM plans to conduct a full consultation in May but welcomes your early views on how the Fund can be rolled out and implemented and invites you to email your initial thoughts and suggestions to: [email protected].