The eye of the tiger

A new youth development has been unveiled by John McGrath, Deputy Secretary, Department for Social Development, in the Tigers Bay area of North Belfast.

Until recently the area, which is bordered by three sectarian interfaces and has suffered from years of civil unrest, had few facilities for young people. But change is on the horizon with the official launch of the Mount Sports Zone, a multi-games court designed by Groundwork Northern Ireland after widespread consultation with local residents.

Tigers Bay community worker Eddie McClean has been campaigning for the facility for over a year and was delighted when funding from the Urban II programme made the community's dream a reality. Eddie says "There has been a chronic shortage of play facilities in the area so this is really marvellous news for both children and parents. This facility will provide a safe and secure environment where young people can play and where parents can easily supervise them. The Mount Sports Zone is an example of what a community can achieve if it has the support and will to do so. The facility now provides an area for the residents that will be used and enjoyed by the entire community for a very long time to come ."

Traditionally, the Mount was the site of the eleventh night bonfire in July and was overlooked by a huge paramilitary mural. Working closely with Groundwork Northern Ireland and North Belfast Prisoners Aid, the residents group persuaded the community to move the annual bonfire to another site and remove the mural. Local young people designed an entrance sign into the facility giving the ‘Sports Zone’ a strong local identity and promoting ownership among their peers.

Groundwork Northern Ireland began working with the people of Tigers Bay through the Greencare II programme, a project designed to empower communities to become actively involved in local regeneration projects. Mary McKee, Director of Groundwork NI, commented: "Projects like these are important on a number of levels. They give young people much needed facilities and an outlet for their energy. They improve the appearance of the area significantly and in so doing they also give people a sense of pride and concern for their neighbourhood. And that’s immeasurable ."

Groundwork NI is one of a network of over forty independent charitable Trusts operating throughout the UK between them investing over £40 million each year in community based environmental regeneration. The Trust works in partnership with the public, private and voluntary sectors and the local community to devise programmes which link environmental, social and economic regeneration to sustainable development.

Greencare II was a two year project, which commenced in July 2001, and operated in Ligoniel, Tigers Bay, Turf Lodge and Inverary. Groundwork worked in partnership with these communities to create meaningful environmental changes to people’s lives, through a process of active participation, community consultation and the development of partnerships. The land that the facility was developed on was handed over to Belfast City Council as a contribution from the Department for Social Development towards the project. The land had been valued at £27,500. Funding was secured from Urban II (Measure 1.2 Developing the Potential of Physical and Social Resources), which is European funding administered through the North Belfast Partnership Board. A total of £127,608 funding was secured from Urban II towards this regeneration proposal. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive contributed approximately £10,000 towards the redevelopment of an area of derelict land beside the developed multisports facility. Belfast City Council also contributed to the development of this proposal by agreeing to take on the insurance and maintenance of the overall project.