Centre 'to boost deprived area'

The centre was funded in part by Belfast City Council

More than £1.5m has been invested in the building of a community centre in north Belfast.

The Vine Centre, which is to be officially opened on Wednesday, is believed to be the first new building on Crumlin Road in almost 30 years.

The centre, funded by a broad partnership including the International Fund for Ireland and Belfast City Council, has already been operating for more than a year at the premises.

People travel from surrounding areas including the Ardoyne and Shankill to use its services such as a general advice centre, after school and senior citizen clubs.

Project director Lynda Gibson said they aimed to help people to play a fuller part in their personal development and in the wider community.

"The opening of our new centre today marks a further step in the regeneration of what is Northern Ireland's most deprived ward," she said.

The centre was founded in 1970 by the Presbyterian Church and is now run in partnership with a number of organisations.