This project is now closed.
Local Communities Leading the Way – The project which is funded by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) will bring together representatives of community leaders to both share best practice and provide valuable networking opportunities through the Mid & East Antrim Borough Council area. NACN is delivering this 2 year programme.
Summary of Activities- Community Leaders
Al Salam – Iftar celebrations Ross Park, culture trip to Ulster American Folk Park, culture trip and family day to Dublin Mosque and Dublin Zoo, end of summer Family day at The Lake Kilrea, visit to Beauty & the Beast Christmas Panto.
Ballymena Runners – Couch to 5K, Run Programme with communities and schools in Ballymena, Ahoghill, Cullybackey and Inter-Ethnic Forum, Community Family Fun Colour Run – Cullybackey, ‘Graduation’ event at end of Couch to 5K.
Broughshane & District – Music Mania event in August 2019 and Community Art work for August 2020.
Carrick Boxing Academy – held a May Brawl boxing event in Loughshore Hotel and Building & Strengthening Relations day out to Todds Leap Activity Park in Oct 2019.
Counties Antrim & Derry Fiddlers Association – attended Children’s Ceili in Ulster Museum, planned exchange weekend with Donegal musicians for Halloween but due to illness had to change to Valentines weekend, held community concert at Halloween and very successful community concert in February, attended Ímar concert in Duncairn Centre for Culture & Arts, Belfast.
Glenarm Community Preschool – a Welcome Walk in June 2019 for children starting in September and their families and existing pupils, Culture trip and tour of Walls of Derry, educational Trip for pupils and families to W5 in Belfast, Pottery workshop for children, Community Ceili for St Patricks Weekend (further communal planting events cancelled due to CORONAVIRUS).
Glenarm Community Focus – week long activities for children of all ages in Glenarm & district in August 2019- including kids pottery classes, Fun with Drums workshop and Bushcraft classes with NI Survival skills. Adult classes x 4 in September 2019 – Photography classes, Reminiscence classes (recording local history), flower arranging and Art classes.
Glenravel District Community & Residents Association – organised a Storytelling workshop, a Christmas Lunch and Tea Dance, family trip to Christmas Panto in Grand Opera House, Belfast. In February they had an Information Lunch with speaker from NISSA outlining Make That Call wraparound service and advice for older people. They also organised Fitness classes for all young Mums in the Glenravel district. Further events were cancelled due to coronavirus.
Harbour Community Group worked closely with local Primary Schools and organised and Environmental Awareness day in February 2020 with the launch of 2 Minute Beach Clean boards and a new information sign at the beach beside Harbour community area. Event was held in Larne Community Centre with speakers from Live Here, Love Here, NI Water, ASDA Community Champion, MEABC Energy Efficiency Agencies, Ballygally Bio Diversity group and N.I.Electricity.
Hillstown Community Group – family trip to Belfast Giants game in SE Arena, Belfast. Culture/educational trip to Hillsborough Castle, Smartphone workshop and a Making A Will workshop. (educational/gardening trip had to be cancelled due to coronavirus).
Oakfield Community group – held very successful community event at Halloween. (had to cancel the Family Activity day and further events due to coronavirus).
Living Room Project – organised a community choir ‘I Sing for Me’ help individuals feel all the mental health benefits of community singing with no pressure to perform in public or sing on their own. Sessions included learning how to sing different genres of music and helped build relations whilst learning how to sing with a large group of people.
Press Release at Launch of Project – Generating leaders of tomorrow for our community groups is what’s on the cards for this fresh new project.
A total of eleven community groups from across the borough were represented on Tuesday 27th November 2018 at Broughshane House. The groups have come together to be part of an exciting new project delivered by the North Antrim Community Network. The “Community Leadership” project is addressing the mutual strengths of our boroughs community groups, while delivering on a range of new exciting projects proposed by the community groups themselves.
The project which is funded by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) will bring together representatives of community leaders to both share best practice and provide valuable networking opportunities. It will culminate in a brand new Community Leadership conference right here in the borough. The conference will be a valuable showcase of our regions talent in community leadership. It will demonstrate how the project has challenged these individuals, to build their capacity and knowledge to become future community leaders of tomorrow capable of real and sustainable change.
Ald Maureen Morrow, chair of the PEACE IV partnership said,
“Through the Mid and East Antrim PEACE IV partnership, we are determined to deliver on an initiative to enable and empower community representative with the knowledge and skills to become champions and leaders of their community, while promoting positive relations. This project more than addresses this, and through the experienced effective delivery of our delivery partner, NACN, we have the potential to really bring something to our community leaders that they can use and build on”.
Amanda McAuley from the North Antrim Community Network, went on to say,
“we are very excited to be engaging with the community groups to find out what their real needs are as well as their ideas for potential on the ground initiatives which we are keen to help develop through support. Our engagement has demonstrated a keen interest in the community groups. An interest that supports a wide variety of upcoming workshops from “Negotiation and Mediation Skills” and “Stewardship and Community Assets” to “Conflict Resolution” and “Maximising Strengths of Individuals.“
For further details you can contact Clare McKay at Northern Area Community Network at t: 07545 076291 or email: clare@nacn.org
#PEACEIVSpecial EU Programmes Body – SEUPB
