18 March 1999 Edition
Community groups to close over ACE
A community group in the Divis area of Belfast, believes that it will be forced to close once the existing ACE scheme has been replaced by the new Worktrain scheme.
The group called the Divis Joint Development ACE scheme which has operated for 16 years has been the first and only source of employment for many people in the area.
The group provides key community services such as an after-school play project and a youth drop-in project.
The scheme's ACE manager, Sean Gibson said, ``with the introduction of Worktrain we're more or less finished unless we can secure some sort of external funding. That would mean the building closing and the end of all the services we offer''.
Sinn Fein, along with community groups, has consistently petitioned the British government not to replace the existing ACE scheme.
It would appear that the British government is trying to take power away from local communities and place it into the hands of civil servants.
The group called the Divis Joint Development ACE scheme which has operated for 16 years has been the first and only source of employment for many people in the area.
The group provides key community services such as an after-school play project and a youth drop-in project.
The scheme's ACE manager, Sean Gibson said, ``with the introduction of Worktrain we're more or less finished unless we can secure some sort of external funding. That would mean the building closing and the end of all the services we offer''.
Sinn Fein, along with community groups, has consistently petitioned the British government not to replace the existing ACE scheme.
It would appear that the British government is trying to take power away from local communities and place it into the hands of civil servants.