Whether you live in Newry or Newcastle, Belfast or Birmingham, County Down or County Durham, you deserve a chance to get on in life and to go as far as your aspiration and talent will take you. As the worst of the pandemic receded last year, the Government set about translating that levelling up ambition into reality.
New freeports, landmark investments into community projects across all parts of the United Kingdom, trailblazing regeneration projects in towns and cities were just the start. As the newly-appointed Levelling Up Secretary, it’s an agenda and a track record I couldn’t have been prouder to take forward.
While the media spotlight is firmly fixed on the leadership race right now, I believe whoever emerges victorious and gets to set the political weather will want to deliver on the central promise of levelling up: every part of the United Kingdom firing on all cylinders.
READ MORE: Cherrie Ontop speaks out after protest at children's storytelling event
The economic backdrop is challenging, with strong economic headwinds, shocks in global markets and supply chains, and rising inflation and energy prices. These challenges only make the mission to level up all the more urgent.
I am proud that in my first month as Secretary of State, I’ve already overseen the opening and closure of bids for the second round of the Levelling Up Fund. For my department it will be a summer of relentless delivery.
In Northern Ireland, we’ve already seen the potential impact that levelling up can have. With support from the fund, Antrim town centre is being transformed before our eyes.
Where high street shops and buildings at Ulster Bar Corner have stood boarded up for years, over 20,000 square feet of high-tech new offices are being created – creating new jobs and catering for businesses big and small. At the same time, we’re putting the town on the map as one of the future homes of green growth - partnering with the private sector to invest in a new hydrogen skills training academy that will upskill and inspire the next generation of skilled workers for careers in sectors like energy, transport, and manufacturing.
We’re levelling up in Omagh, too, after green-lighting a multi-million pound project to turn their disused, old Health Centre into a digital innovation hub. This will help local businesses reel in more customers through better use of apps and online marketing.
And it’s not just new business opportunities. In Derry/Londonderry investments from the Levelling Up Fund are creating a new sports hub, complete with FIFA class football pitches for local clubs. And the second round of funding will provide even more exciting local projects.
While the Government is backing and investing in all the initiatives, we are far from doing it alone. Each of these community-strengthening, growth-spurring projects got off the ground thanks to the support, advice and expertise of councils, residents and businesses in the area.
Local people in local organisations who understand local issues. Levelling up is not just about one fund – it is a community-driven, community-centred approach to driving growth and one that transcends everything we are doing in this space.
In addition to the Levelling Up Fund, which will be announcing successful bids under its second round in Autumn, we currently have the Community Ownership Fund open which places power into the hands of residents who can bid for these local institutions to receive funding and help strengthen some of the bonds that keep communities together. The restoration of the St Columb’s Hall in Derry/Londonderry is a prime example of how this fund can be used to full effect.
Levelling Up has to be a joint mission between the UK Government and the people that make up our great United Kingdom. It will only work if we are all invested in its success.
Together with the people of Northern Ireland, I know we have what it takes to strengthen our communities, to bring opportunities to places stripped of them in recent years and to offer a brighter future for towns and cities across the country.
READ NEXT:
-
Belfast Pride: PSNI say 2022 parade is 'biggest in event's history'
-
Belfast Pride event aiming to give an insight into lived experiences of LGBTQI+ community
-
Monkeypox: PHA warns people attending Belfast Pride to check themselves for symptoms
-
Ulster Rugby set for Belfast Pride return as it calls on clubs for support
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
