Northern Area Community Network is a membership based organisation and is managed by a voluntary Board of Directors that are elected from member organisations. The Network’s office is based in Cushendall and it covers the catchment area of Mid & East Antrim, Antrim & Newtownabbey and Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Councils.
The original aims of the Network have widened considerably since its inception to include a comprehensive community development and networking service to groups in the catchment area. The primary aims of Northern Area Community Network are to offer a community development service to it’s member groups and to focus on the practice of networking to allow community groups themselves to share knowledge and experience. The Network aims to provide an opportunity for communities to have a voice and an influence, without compelling members to lose their chosen identity, adherence and different interests.
Board of Directors
James McKay
Mary Gilmore
Robert McIlroy
Lexie Scott
William Colvin
James Mulholland
Staff
Breige Conway – Manager – contact Breige
Sandy Wilson – Community Development Officer – contact Sandy
Amanda McAuley – Project Officer (SPRING) – contact Amanda
Ita McErlean – Community Development Officer – contact Ita
Veronica McKinley – Project Officer (NICHI) – contact Veronica
Clare McKay – Project Officer (NICHI/ DAERA) – contact Clare
Hannah Graham – Project Officer (SPDO) – contact Hannah
Aine McCullagh – Finance Officer – contact Aine
Susan McLaughlin – Administrator – contact Susan
Claire Mooney – Administrator – contact Claire
Current Funders
Dept. of Agriculture Environment & Rural Affairs
The National Lottery Community Fund
Public Health Agency (Northern Area) Community Foundation for Northern Ireland
To read the latest overview on NACN click on the link below:
History
Northern Area Community Network (NACN) has been in existence since 1985 and was initially called the ‘Glens of Antrim Rural Community Development Association’ (GARCDA). It was confined to the mid-Glens, i.e. Cushendun, Cushendall and Glenariff, and came together to create a stronger voice around local housing issues. It was not until 1995 that funding became available to set up an office and employ staff. In this same year, the Network expanded beyond the Glens and quadrupled its membership. The Network changed its name to the North Antrim Community Network (NACN) in the period 1996/97 to reflect the broader interests and a larger geographical area, as it expanded northwards and westwards to include the four Council areas of Moyle, Ballymoney, Ballymena and Larne. In 2011 the Network’s catchment area widened once again, to include the Council area of Coleraine, resulting in 5 Councils area being serviced by the Community Network. With the award of the DARD Community Development Support Service Contract in August 2012 the Network now also includes Limavady Borough Council. The new contract with DAERA in 2018 saw the final extension to include Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council. The Network updated their Company name in April 2019 to Northern Area Community Network.