By Conor Sharkey
AFTER eleven years helping communities on both sides of the border, the DergFinn Partnership has announced it is to fold.
Three staff will be made redundant when the project closes its doors for good tomorrow.
Since its inception, DergFinn has been helping improve the life quality of people in need, their carers and the broader community. On top of workshops, courses and residentials on a wide range of subjects including information technology and first aid, the Partnership has become a vital source of advice and information for the Finn Valley.
Last month however, staff were informed that funding was no longer available and that the project would be wound up within a matter of weeks.
Lobbying by politicians on both sides of the border has proved fruitless and this week, Project Manager Paul Anderson and his team were preparing to pull the plug on the Dergfinn Partnership once and for all.
Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Anderson explained: "We are closing because we have been unable to find funding. We didn't fit into the Peace III bracket and we couldn't bridge the gap between Peace III and Peace II.
"It costs ¤100,000 per year to keep us going and we just didn't get the support of politicians.
"But with the recession, it would have been difficult for them to find help for us anyway," he said.
Asked how he believes the closure will affect the communities in Castlederg and Ballybofey, Paul said the loss will be felt greatly.
"There is nothing in the Finn Valley for carers and the one thing they had was our service.
"There just isn't another group that provides support and advice to carers, disabled people, single mothers, people without a voice. So I think a big gap will be left when we go.
"We have had a few people coming in and telling us what a loss it will be. People tend to take this kind of thing for granted when they have it, but when it goes they will feel it.
"It will be a sad loss and I can see us being missed in both Ballybofey and Castlederg when we close tomorrow," Mr Anderson added.
'It costs ¤100,000 per year to keep us going and we just didn't get the support of politicians.'
