Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie today announced the purchase of premises at Bishops Street, Derry for use as a new shared community development centre.

Funding from the Department for Social Development’s Modernisation Fund Capital Programme has enabled Holywell Trust and the Walled City Partnership to purchase the Bishops Street premises. Together with funding from the International Fund for Ireland, the site will be redeveloped and transformed it into new office accommodation and meeting space for a range of groups in a single location. The aim of the initiative is to establish the centre of the city as a place of inclusion where diversity is recognised and celebrated.

Margaret Ritchie said: “I want to harness the strength of the Voluntary and Community Sector to deliver better services to those who need them most. This project will provide services for a range of groups from a single location and provide a centre for community activity.

“I also want to target resources in a way that has maximum impact and I welcome that the aims of the Modernisation Programme are being achieved in practical terms as demonstrated here today. It is encouraging to see organisations grow and develop.”

Dr Adrian Johnston, International Fund for Ireland Board Member said: “The aim of The Walled City Partnership Initiative is to establish the centre of the City as a place for inclusion, where diversity is recognised and celebrated. This is entirely in harmony with one of the key aims of the International Fund for Ireland, which is to encourage contact, dialogue and reconciliation between Unionists and Nationalists throughout Ireland.

“The International Fund for Ireland is very keen to support interventions – such as The Walled City Partnership Initiative – which will have a sustainable, long-term positive impact on peace building and reconciliation long after the Fund ceases to exist.

“I am very confident that our investment of almost £2million in this project will be money well spent, and I look forward to returning to the site when the construction work has been completed.”

Following the handover of keys to the Bishop Street premises, Eamonn Deane Director of Holywell Trust said: “This is great news for the projects involved and for Derry City Centre. It marks the beginning of a new approach of collaborative working and partnership building.”

The Department for Social Development has funded the project to the amount of £1.4million with match funding of £1.9million from the International Fund for Ireland.