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Project Name: |
New Directions |
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Zone: |
Southern |
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Category: |
Capital |
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Social Investment Fund Outcome: |
Increasing Community Services |
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Status: |
Operational – Construction Complete |
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Funding awarded: |
£1,088,923 (across the 2 New Directions projects) |
About the Project:
This community project involved capital builds of two facilities - Kilcluney Orange Hall and Lurgan YMCA.
Kilcluney Community Hub
The aim of this capital project was to build a new community hall to facilitate the delivery of community services and sporting and cultural activity in Kilcluney and surrounding areas. The community hall replaced the original orange hall at Kilcluney which was built in 1934 and was small and basic with one main room, one toilet, very basic kitchen facilities and ineffective heating facilities in a poor state of repair. The original hall had outgrown its usefulness and the state of repair and the size could not meet the Hub’s needs and inhibited provision of services required in the area. In addition, the hall did not meet the requirements of DDA and had no outdoor space or parking facilities. The building did not meet fire safety or health and safety standards with an inadequate standard of kitchen and sanitary provision. SIF funding allowed capital works including the provision of a function room, meeting room, multi-use room, kitchen, store, toilets, cloakroom, shower and changing facilities within a new community hub.
Lurgan YMCA
Lurgan YMCA moved into a new fit for purpose youth and community centre in 2013 but were unable to secure tenants for the two rental units on the ground floor of the new build. Professional advice suggested that economic conditions would make it challenging to rent these units without them being fitted out, ready to use. The rental income to be secured from these units was critical to the future sustainability of Lurgan YMCA. SIF funding allowed capital works to fit out the two shell rental units. These works included internal walls, unit fronts, internal doors and frames, wall, floor and ceiling finishes, fittings, services installations and drainage works to provide fully furnished accommodation.
Progress to date:
This project has been completed construction and is operational tenants are installed in Lurgan YMCA allowing them to continue and enhance service delivery. The improved facilities at both sites have enabled the delivery of an enhanced range of programmes and community based services including committee meetings, over 60’s club, training courses including food hygiene and Microsoft Power, Prince’s Trust and have been host to a number of events and venue hire and multi-cultural sporting activities. This project has also contributed to social and community development and, thereby, has helped to improve the conditions of life for all residents in the local communities in the SIF Southern zone.
A number of short films on Social Investment Fund projects and outcomes have been produced. Below is the link to a short film, that highlights the construction/improvement works to facilities funded in the SIF Southern zone, including the New Directions project:
Impacts:
Monitoring and evaluation of all Social Investment Fund projects is carried out using “Outcomes Based Accountability” (OBA). Where SIF has funded capital works, the project provides quarterly “post-capital” data for a period of 3 years which details the positive impacts enabled by the capital works undertaken. The New Directions project has completed its 3 years of post-capital monitoring. Below are the capital and post capital infographics which highlight the key impacts of both elements of this project.
