£1m legacy for EC1

Islington Council has announced £1million to ensure residents can continue to benefit from initiatives started by the New Deal for Communities programme in EC1.

The 10-year EC1 New Deal for Communities (NDC) programme ends in March 2011 and the council’s commitment provides £200,000 annually up until 2016.

Councillor Terry Stacy said: “We’ve seen what a significant impact this programme has had in EC1. Whether it be employment and training support, youth services or community events, this funding will help to maintain important local projects which were started by the NDC.“

NDC Chief Executive Kirby Swales said: “The council’s commitment to the NDC’s succession plan is very welcome. We’ve seen nine years of positive changes in EC1 and it’s important that residents will continue to benefit from that investment.”

Projects set to benefit from the funding include:

• EC1 Connect – an award-winning service which assists people by first making contact with them in their homes through an innovative door-knocking approach and puts them in touch with key service providers such as Homes for Islington, NHS Islington and Age Concern

• The EC1 Youth Providers' Partnership and Youth Forum - designed to improve services for young people

• The new Three Corners Centre with facilities and activities for children and young people and an adult learning centre for people who want to improve their skills and qualifications

• The annual EC1 Summer Festival which has been held for seven consecutive years and attracts hundreds of residents every year

• The residents’ magazine, YOUR EC1, which will be developed to include a training programme to enable local people to contribute to its production and learn skills in journalism, print and design.

The funding compliments the recently published ‘EC1:Beyond 2011’, the NDC’s plans for what happens once the programme finishes. Copies are available from EC1 NDC, please call 020 3142 5050 or email info@ec1newdeal.com.