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Minister confirms new deal for communities funding

Communities Minister Baroness Andrews has today confirmed nearly £500m for neighbourhood partnerships in deprived communities across the country, to continue helping their work to cut crime levels, improve educational achievements and boost job opportunities.

Over £250m will be made available over the next two years, and is in addition to the £230m announced in April for this year.

This funding means that the 39 New Deal for Communities partnerships will have received £2bn over the 10-year programme.

A recent study looked at the impact of New Deal for Communities on their local areas between 2001-02 and 2005-06. It found that:

• 57 per cent of people believe that New Deal for Communities has improved their area, up from 33 per cent.
• In 2005 37 per cent of students from New Deal for Communities areas attained at least 5 high level GCSEs - up from 26 per cent in 2002.
• Areas with New Deal for Communities partnerships have benefited from reduced crime and reduced fear of crime - including a 30 per cent drop in household burglary rates between 2000-01 and 2004-05.
• 355,000 places have been taken up by young people on youth inclusion and diversionary projects.
• New Deal for Communities areas substantially out-perform other similarly deprived areas on public satisfaction with the areas as a place to live, the environment, and the extent to which neighbours look out for each other.

Communities Minister Baroness Andrews said:

"Over the past eight years, the New Deal for Communities Programme has made a significant and long-lasting contribution to improving the lives of people in our most deprived communities, from Newcastle to Plymouth.

"So I am delighted to be able to announce a further £250m funding today, which will mean these 39 partnerships can continue their good work over the next two years and into the long term."

Notes to Editors

New Deal for Communities: Revised allocations for 2008-09 and indicative total allocations for 2008-11

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