THEME 1 – Building strong, safe, attractive and sustainable communities in which families want to live and bring up their children

The Strategic Regeneration Framework for South Belfast (the framework) will provide an over-arching development context for the Inner South Belfast Neighbourhood Renewal Area.  This will include an area-based master plan identifying assets and opportunities for further environmental improvement and the development of housing, economic assets and recreation facilities.  The framework will identify ways in which public services can be improved and be delivered in a more integrated manner.  The framework and masterplan will identify important linkages of Inner South Belfast to the rest of the city and region as a whole.

VISION STATEMENT(S)

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S)

1A - A suitable and affordable range of housing is available across all tenures.

1. An independent and integrated strategy will be developed to provide a framework for the future development of housing in Inner South Belfast.

2. A parallel assessment will be undertaken of committed and planned residential development across the ISBNP area, including private sector, housing association and NIHE schemes. The study will consider the potential to develop additional accommodation through innovation in design and procurement, facilitating increased density and mixed-use development.

3. An independent community impact assessment will be undertaken to determine the effect of HMOs on Inner South Belfast.

1B - Housing is of an acceptable standard and is repaired and maintained with reasonable responsiveness to need.

1. NIHE will undertake an assessment of fundamental design flaws in relation to existing housing stock in Inner South Belfast (e.g. No rear access to properties in Donegall Pass, no storage area for bins in the Markets, unusable box rooms being categorised as bedrooms, etc).

2. A review of exemplar projects in relation to the accommodation of family needs in inner city housing will be undertaken. This review will look at best practice in Ireland, the United Kingdom and Internationally.

3. A study will be undertaken to identify opportunities for the establishment of Special Purpose Vehicles (e.g. Not-for-Profit Company or Community Interest Company) to provide services to the public and private sector in the Inner South Belfast Area.

1C - All stakeholders work in partnership to ensure there is effective provision to address the causes and effects of anti-social behaviour.

1. A properly resourced community safety strategy which engages all relevant stakeholders will be developed that includes the Inner South Belfast area

2. A pilot project to address anti-social behaviour in Ormeau Park will be developed.

1D - Local residents are fully aware of their rights, entitlements and responsibilities and will have access to appropriate advice and information on a range of issues.

1. A properly resourced advice service will be provided to residents in the Inner South Belfast area.

1F - The area has appropriate provision for resident parking and future development in and around the area takes into account the impact of traffic on the community.

1. An adequate and appropriately designed car parking scheme should be introduced in Inner South Belfast, and parking in non-designated areas should be strictly enforced.

2. Proposals will be developed as alternatives to the proposed Inner-City Ring Road. These proposals will take account of the needs of local residents, the need to enhance the environment and promote linkage with the city centre, as well as the need to facilitate access to the retail, civic and cultural heart of the city for all.

THEME 2 – Supporting a broad-based economy, helping people move towards and into work as well as increasing skill levels.

The Strategic Regeneration Framework for South Belfast will provide a comprehensive thematic strategy for economic development in South Belfast. This will include an area-based plan for Inner South Belfast which connects economic development within that area to the rest of the City and Region.

VISION STATEMENT(S)

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S)

2A - A vibrant, balanced and  sustainable economy is promoted in Inner South Belfast welcoming and encouraging SMEs, large corporations, Social Economy participants, entrepreneurs and sole traders alike.

1. A database of existing businesses and employers in Inner South Belfast will be developed and local businesses will be encouraged to join an area business network. This will aid in communication of opportunity, success and new initiatives

2. Exemplar companies and individuals should be identified and case studies focusing on such success should be communicated throughout Inner South Belfast.

2B - There are adequate and appropriate incentives and programmes that encourage people to come off unemployment and come off benefits.

1. A co-ordinated and comprehensive economic development strategy will be developed for Inner South Belfast.

2. Undertake as a case study how many people from Inner South Belfast applied for employment and were employed in the Gasworks site and Laganside.

This case study will identify barriers preventing people from taking up employment and will provide recommendations in relation to education and training to address these barriers.

3. A childcare working group will be established to develop innovative proposals in relation to addressing childcare inequalities in Inner South Belfast.

4. An integrated and co-ordinated training support package will be developed between providers will be developed to ensure that training is tailored to meet the needs of local people and employers.

2C - There is appropriate support for Social Economy participants, Community Interest Companies, and SMEs who wish to bid for public sector contracts to deliver services.

1. Support mechanisms and materials will be developed to ensure that Social Economy Organisations, Community Interest Companies and SMEs have the capacity to bid for public service contracts.

2. A review to examine best practice from Great Britain in relation to Social Economy Participants, Community Interest Companies and SMEs delivering services for Local Government will be undertaken.

2D - Affordable work space and appropriate advice is available to support local enterprise and business

1. An audit of the number and type of vacant business premises in Inner South Belfast will be undertaken.

2. Appropriate and affordable business start-up and incubation units will be developed in Inner South Belfast.

3. programmes that provide advice and support in relation to starting a business will be provided and will be properly promoted and marketed.

THEME 3 – Improving community relations

VISION STATEMENT(S)

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S)

3A - All people are encouraged to participate in the community in positive ways.

1. A dedicated community development worker will provide support to local community forums to redevelop participation structures within the community and to ensure that local residents are given the opportunity to participate in the area.

2. The Neighbourhood Partnership will undertake a review of how it connects with the range of stakeholders operating in the area, especially local residents, and develop an appropriate model for engagement.

3. A Neighbourhood Encouragement Fund will be established to provide small grants to organisations that wish to deliver projects promoting cultural awareness, community participation, inter-generational work, or cross community work.

4. A dedicated Neighbourhood Communications worker will work to improve communications between community organisations, Government Departments/Agencies, the Private Sector and local residents, as well as improve communications between all three communities.

3B - The community encourages greater acceptance of and respect for cultural diversity

1. A dedicated community development worker will work with local groups and residents to improve participation, develop community structures, and promote cultural awareness and cross-community working.

3C - The community has a forum in which the views of all people and groups of interest are sought and acted upon.

1. The Neighbourhood Partnership will develop more effective links with local community forums.

3D - People and organisations from different backgrounds are encouraged to engage in collaborative work on common issues.

1. Appropriate training, resources and protective measures will be provided to ensure the interface can be managed effectively and that relations can be built across the interface.

THEME 4 – Raising educational attainment

VISION STATEMENT(S)

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S)

4A - Children and young people are encouraged to make the most of their educational process.

1. A strategy will be developed to encourage approaches that promote parental involvement in children’s education and that encourages children and young people to engage fully with their educational process.

2. A pilot project will be developed placing o Community Liaison Officer in a local school to provide a more formal link between families, service providers, the community sector and that local school.

3. Key stakeholders will work together to develop a strategy to improve the provision of sport and physical education in schools.

4B - The education system is adapted to meet the needs of inner city communities..

1. Problems arising from incoming Government Policy in relation to the exclusion of 2yr old children from nursery schools and the impact this will have on inner city communities will be highlighted.

2. A mechanism will be developed to involve schools more directly with the work of the Neighbourhood Partnership.

4C - There is recognition of the need for extra resources for those with special educational needs.

1. Extra specialist teaching hours will be allocated to primary schools serving Inner South Belfast.

2. Extra educational psychologist hours will be allocated to secondary schools serving Inner South Belfast.

4D - Improved relations exist between schools, community-based organisations and Government Departments/Agencies.

1. A local education strategy will be developed for Inner South Belfast.

4E - Resources are given to schools on the basis of need rather than enrolment.

1. Government and BELB will be lobbied in relation to how resources are allocated to schools.

THEME 5 – Engaging young people, for example, through art, sports and physical activity

VISION STATEMENT(S)

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S)

5A - There is an effective youth strategy for the area that facilitates a multi-agency approach to youth services and provision.

1. A Youth Strategy Group, comprising representatives from the Community and Voluntary Sector, the Statutory Sector as well as other key identified stakeholders, will be established to oversee the development of a co-ordinated Youth Strategy for the area. This Strategy should also look at how usage of youth and community facilities in the area can be maximised.

2. Extra detached Youth work hours will be provided for Inner South Belfast.

5B - There is an effective mechanism that enables young people to become actively involved in decision making processes..

1. A Young People’s Activity Fund will be established to facilitate joint working between young people and youth groups in Inner South Belfast.  The fund will promote creative and cultural means by which young people can become more active citizens.

5C - Facilities exist to train and build confidence in young people through arts, sports and cultural activities

1. An audit of arts and sports equipment currently owned by youth providers in the area will be undertaken and organisations encouraged to share these resources.

2. A new multi-purpose sports facility will be developed at Shaftesbury Recreation Centre.

3. A modern Youth Facility will be developed in the Markets area.

4. St John Vianney Youth Centre will be refurbished to modern standards.

5. A modern Youth Facility will be developed in Donegall Pass.

5D Intervention and Development work for young people is both challenging and creative.

1. A partnership approach will be developed for working with young offenders and those at risk of offending.  This approach will include the possibility of a more involved role for the Community Sector in Community Service Orders.

THEME 6 – Improving health and well-being

VISION STATEMENT(S)

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S)

6A - Local communities have an effective mechanism to improve local health and social service delivery.

1. A health forum will be established to create more effective links between local service providers and strategic bodies to align strategic development to local priorities.

2. More effective links will be developed between the Neighbourhood Partnership and community based health providers.

6B - The community has shared responsibility for health and takes action to help people improve their health

1. Community-based approaches to improving the health of local people will be supported to secure the continued provision of their services.

6C - Accessible, responsive and relevant healthcare services are available to all sections of the community.

1. Local lay health workers will be trained to act as an intermediary between the local community and GPs.

6D Comprehensive health advice and support is provided for young people in a way that is acceptable to them..

1. A Mental Health Strategy for Young People in Inner South Belfast will be developed..