Heads of Terms

The words easy read over an open book with a smiling girl giving thumbs up using both hands

The outline of a page with bold words written on it and an arrow pointing to it

In this easy read document, difficult words are in bold.
We explain what these words mean in the sentence after they have been used.

Introduction

A photograph of Council Headquarters in Coleraine

Growth Deals provide funds to local authorities for projects that benefit the local area and economy.
Local authorities is another term for Council.

A growth deal provides capital investment only.
Capital investment means money for building projects or buying equipment.

the words pick me in speech marks underlined with a squiggle

Elected Members proposed a large selection of projects for consideration.
Consideration means careful thought.

a green direction sign with the word success and an arrow pointing the way

A short list of nine projects
with the greatest potential to support economic growth was then agreed.
Greatest potential means most likely to succeed.

These nine projects have been granted approval by the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive to proceed to the next stage.

figures which say 36 million pounds in bold black writing

The UK Government have committed £36 million.

figures which say 36 million pounds in bold blue writing

The Northern Ireland Executive have committed
£36 million.

figures which say 25 million pounds in bold dark purple writing

Council and other project delivery partners will also contribute over £25 million.
Contribute means giving money in order to help achieve something.

the outline of a page with writing inside it which says Growth deal heads of terms with logos of the organisations who will work together

This Easy Read information explains what is included in our Heads of Terms.
Heads of Terms is an informal agreement between parties.

Our Region

an outline of the council area coloured in green

Covers almost 1,200 square kilometres.

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Has a population of 141,700 residents.

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Female life expectancy is 83 years old. Male life expectancy is 79 years old.
Expectancy is when you think something will happen.

a yellow sign which says visitors in blue

Had a peak number of visitors in 2019 of 2.5 million.

a blue background with the words the open 153rd royal portrush with a silver golf cup

Hosts large scale events.

Challenges

a drawing of fields trees and a house in the country

Our Borough is primarily rural.

an outline of a person with a large green sack on their shoulders with the word debt in white

Our Council inherited debt when it merged in 2015.

Inherited means Council had no choice but to accept the outstanding debt.

a blue woman and a man with walking sticks looking towards each other

The age of our residents is continually getting older.

a dark purple magnifying glass with a dark purple briefcase in the lens with the word job in white

Unemployment rate is highest in Northern Ireland.

a drwaing of a man with a clipboard beside a lorry with the word export on it in front of shipping containers and boxes

Exports have fallen by 15 percent.
Exports are goods sold outside of Northern Ireland.

a drawing of a hat and a scroll which someone who has graduated from college would wear

14 percent of residents have no or low levels of educational attainment.

Educational attainment means the highest qualification held by a person.

a man in a suit holding a page which says best employee

98 percent of businesses are either micro or small.
Micro businesses have less than 10 employees.

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Small businesses have between 11 and 50 employees.

a blue rectangle which says pay check in white

In 2022, average annual earnings based on people living in the area was £24,825.

Projects in Our Deal

brightly coloured speech boxes with white capital letters that spell the word themes

Projects have been assigned across three themes:

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Innovation

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Tourism & Regeneration

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Infrastructure

Innovation

Innovation is the introduction of something new.

a photograph of a woman wearing a white coat below a heading that says Centre for Food and drug discovery

The Centre for Food & Drug Discovery will build upon existing research expertise to establish a leading centre of scientific excellence.

a green and cream multi coloured circle which says support local business in brown

The Business Innovation & Incubation Hub will provide much needed wet labs and business expansion units.

different hands holding brightly coloured capital letters which when joined together read the words team work

Incubation means providing early-stage businesses with the support and resources to help them succeed.

two brightly coloured bottles with liquid inside and bubbles at the top

Wet labs are laboratory spaces designed to test chemicals, biological matter, and drugs.

blue and black patterned text which spell the word innovation

An Innovation Centre at North West Regional College will help businesses to develop new products and services.

Tourism & Regeneration
Regeneration is the long term upgrading of existing urban and rural areas.

a photograph of a sign which says conservation area bushmills

Bushmills Connected: Regeneration Project will improve the overall perception of the village.

a blue and white picture of a persons head with a triangle which shows they are thinking about a triangle square and circle

Perception means how something is thought of.

a photograph of a road sign which says Dungiven

Dungiven Regeneration Project will improve the overall perception of the village and provide a digital hub.

Cushendall Innovation Centre will increase the capacity of its existing digital hub.

a drawing of a green battery with the word full inside it

Capacity is the maximum amount that something can contain.

a photograph of the entrance to Coleraine Leisure Centre

Coleraine Leisure and Wellbeing Centre will update the existing Leisure Centre.

a blue circle with yellow inside with the text be kind to your mind inside

Plus bring much needed wellbeing initiatives to the town.
Initiatives are actions which improve a situation.

lots of different coloured cars and lorries facing all directions

Connected Causeway Traffic and Parking will reduce congestion and create new parking destinations.
Congestion is when a place is too blocked or crowded, causing difficulties.

Infrastructure
Infrastructure is the basic systems and services, such as transport and power supplies, that a country or organization uses in order to work effectively.