The Social Investment Fund (SIF) has been set up by the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver social change.  It aims to make life better for people living in targeted areas by reducing poverty, unemployment and physical deterioration.  The fund will run until 2015 and has been allocated £80 million by the Executive.  SIF aims to support communities to:

• Build pathways to employment;
• Tackle issues linked to deprivation such as poor health & crime;
• Increase access to community services; and
• Address dereliction.

The following measures will be used to decide which areas are eligible:

• areas within the top 10 per cent of most deprived Super Output Areas on the Multiple Deprivation Measure 2010;
• areas within the top 20 per cent of most deprived Super Output Areas on the key domains of income, employment, education and health; and
• areas which can provide independently verified and robust evidence of objective need linked to the four strategic objectives of the Social Investment Fun (as detailed above).

The fund is being delivered across nine social investment zones. Each zone has a steering group with up to 14 members from the business, political, statutory and voluntary and community sectors. The Southern Social Investment Zone covers Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Dungannon & South Tyrone and Newry & Mourne Council areas. 

Individuals and organisations seeking more information can contact Wallace Consulting at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Joanne Wallace on 028 3839 4492.

Further details are available on the NI Direct website. http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/the-social-investment-fund.