Work has started to develop a community hub facility at Forkhill PreSchool Playgroup in Newry.

Mourne, Gullion and Lecale Rural Development Partnership (MGL RDP) awarded grant funding of over £250,000 from the Rural Basic Services Scheme of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs' (DAERA) Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme (NIRDP) 2014-2020, to Forkhill Preschool Playgroup Ltd.

Funding from the Rural Development Programme, along with a significant contribution from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, will enable Forkhill Preschool Playgroup Ltd to develop a community hub, creating vital facilities for both families utilising the playgroup and the wider community. The new multi-use facility will provide a range of cross community services including pre-school programmes, mental health programmes, IT training, wellbeing programmes and life-long learning opportunities.

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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Laura Devlin said: "The Rural Development funding is helping to provide vital community facilities and in turn is assisting the Council’s Community Plan vision of having accessible services for local residents improving their quality of life."

Councillor Roisin Mulgrew, Chairperson of MGL Rural Development Partnership said: "The Local Action Group is delighted to be able to award funding to Forkhill Preschool Playgroup Ltd. The new Community Hub is a multifaceted facility providing the playgroup with a purpose-built facility dedicated to the needs of young families in the local community; as well as offering the wider community the opportunity to avail of an excellent facility for hosting a variety of activities for all ages and abilities.

"The Community Hub is a welcome and important addition to the Forkhill community and will complement the existing community facilities within the local area which are currently in high demand."

Work is expected to be completed by spring 2021.