Network for a brighter future

by Stephen Carrison

On 28th March 1996, The Netherton Network held it's grand opening. We interviewed Sharon McCarthy, a member of the Netherton Community Forum, to find out more. . .

The S.R.B stands for the Single Regeneration Budget and is a sum of money which has been allocated to the Netherton Partnership to assist in the regeneration of Netherton. Many areas will benefit from the initiative including housing, community safety, education and the environment.

The Netherton Network is home to a number of projects including Citizen's Advice, Money Support Team, Women and Children's Aid, Employment Development Service and the Netherton Community Forum, with others situated in easily accessible bases within the community.

Child care, drugs, traffic calming and literacy are some of the issues that will be addressed by the schemes. Eventually, there will be 114 programmes running throughout the area. The overall aim is massive regeneration within Netherton, putting into place solid foundations on which the community can build once the money is no longer available.

Sharon claims that Netherton is a forgotten area but the strength of it's community involvement has allowed it to be earmarked for regeneration. She hopes that many of the projects will still be operational when government money runs out. We asked for her thoughts on Netherton's future, "Netherton may still have unemployment, it may still have poor housing but the money will make a difference in many areas."


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