Republican News · Thursday 25 April 2002

De Brún supports Ashton funding bid

The Ashton Centre in the New Lodge area of North Belfast has been left reeling after two separate funding applications totalling £240,000 were both turned down.

A £138,000 bid sponsored by the Health Department was turned down by the Belfast Regeneration Office. Rejecting the application, the Regeneration Office said the application was similar to another initiative into health needs some years ago. But this has been rejected by Ashton Centre coordinator Irene Sherry. Commenting, she said: "The former was a needs assessment, but this one was to provide an actual service which would have included self help and personal development."

The news came on the heels of another major blow for the centre, as it lost out on funding to the tune of £96,000 applied under Healthier Communities Programme. Sherry said: "We try to provide a service for the trauma needs of the community in North Belfast. We are shocked and very disappointed that a vital and crucial service we provide in North Belfast amid continuing violence has been turned down". Representatives of the centre will be appealing the decision.

Meanwhile Sinn Féin Health Minister Bairbre De Brún visited the Ashton Centre last Wednesday, 17 April, to show support for its funding bid. The Health Minister visited the Centre's creche and the stress clinic, opened only last year to provide a service for the people of North Belfast given the continuing trouble. It may now be forced to close.