Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots MLA has visited some of the rural halls which have recently benefitted from his Department's Rural Halls Refurbishment Scheme.

The Rural Halls Refurbishment Scheme is a Pound 4.2m pilot scheme which provides grants to rural community and voluntary organisations to deliver capital works to rural halls, with the aim of keeping community facilities viable and to support existing rural organisations to remain sustainable and identify new volunteers. Approximately Pound 3.7m will fund the capital works with the balance of funding allocated to the delivery of the mandatory 'Managing Your Space' training programme.

During his tour of successful projects under the Rural Halls Refurbishment Scheme, the Minister returned to St Colman's Parish Hall in Ardboe outside Cookstown where he first announced the scheme last year to see the finished results of the refurbishment works.

Speaking during the visit, Minister Poots said: "It's great to see today how Pound 2.4m from the Rural Halls Refurbishment Scheme is already benefitting 70 rural community and voluntary organisations and a further 38 Letters of Offer will soon issue for the remaining value of Pound 1.3m. Community halls play a vital role in underpinning local community life, enabling activities to prevent loneliness among people in rural areas and creating stronger more connected communities. Rural Community Groups played a key role in responding to Covid, with much of this work being co-ordinated from community halls. I am pleased to be able to support our rural communities through this scheme. On my recent visits I can see the huge difference my Department's investment has made to transform these local facilities in rural communities."

Minister Poots continued: "This scheme has provided the financial assistance necessary to help local voluntary and community organisations fund much needed refurbishment works to rural halls, to help keep community facilities viable. These halls will play a key role in tackling isolation and loneliness issues in the time ahead. I will do what I can to ensure that rural life is sustained and grows from strength to strength and am proud of the Rural Halls Refurbishment Scheme success story so far."

The Minister also visited Glenageeragh LOL 908 in Augher; Kilnaslee Community Development Group in Donaghmore; and Dromara Village Football Club to view their completed works and attended an event to promote the refurbished works at the hall managed by Annahinchago Rural Development Association in Ballyward, Castlewellan.

A key element of the pilot scheme has been the requirement for a minimum of six members of the organisations to participate in mandatory 'Managing your Space' capacity building training programme prior to any grant aid Letter of Offer being issued. At the visits, the Minister presented OCN Accredited Training certificates to those who undertook the training.