Celebration Event Shines Spotlight on Improving District Health and Wellbeing

Newry Mourne and Down District Council Community Planning partners recently held celebration events in Newcastle and Newry to recognise inspiring projects promoting good health and wellbeing, supported through the Communities Leading Change Participatory Budgeting Programme.

Newcastle’s Burrendale Hotel hosted groups from the Downpatrick, Rowallane, Slieve Croob and Mournes District Electoral Areas (DEAs), while Killeavey Castle hosted groups from the Slieve Gullion, Newry and Crotlieve DEAs. The respective event hosts were BBC NI’s Barra Best and Rachel Duffy from The Traitors television series.

Ninety eight community groups across the district were allocated a total of £98,000, with projects highlighted during the Newcastle celebration including those by the Schomberg Society, Kingdom Youth Club, Ballynahinch Men’s Shed, Ballynahinch Community Collective, DisAbility Hub, St Brigid’s Primary School, Downpatrick, Aughlisnafin GAC G4MO, Annsborough Youth Group and Dundrum Coastal Rowing Club, with guests enjoying entertainment from Annalong Community Choir, also recipients of a Communities Leading Change grant.

Projects highlighted during the Killeavy Castle event included those by St Mark’s High School, Warrenpoint, Ballyholland GAC, Newtownhamilton and District Community First Responders, Breastmates Newry, Greater Armagh Road Men’s Shed, Crossmaglen Darkness into Light and Amazing Abilities, with guests enjoying entertainment from Traditional Arts Partnership, one of the groups to receive a Communities Leading Change grant.

Raffle prizes at both events were donated by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Newry, Mourne and Down Leisure Services and the Community Planning Department.

At the Burrendale event, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell said, “It’s a pleasure to celebrate the community groups who have been successful through our Communities Leading Change Participatory Budgeting programme. Thousands of people across our district took part in voting, learning more about what is happening in their area and having a real say in how public money is spent. That is democracy at its most local and most meaningful.

“The Budgeting Programme continues to demonstrate how local investment can unlock ideas, strengthen partnerships and deliver meaningful benefits for health and wellbeing. This celebration is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when communities are given the opportunity to lead change.”

At Killeavy Castle, Council Deputy Chairperson, Councillor Geraldine Kearns said, “What makes this programme especially powerful is that it brings people together; community groups, residents and public bodies - working in partnership, learning from one another, and shaping solutions collectively. That spirit of collaboration is something we are proud of as a Council.” 

The project funders include Department for Communities, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, PSNI, Housing for All – Clanmil, Arbour, Radius and Ark (in kind support), County Down Rural Community Network, Confederation of Community Groups and Newry, Mourne and Down Policing and Community Safety Partnership.

A full list of the successful projects that secured funding is available at https://www.newrymournedown.org/communities-leading-change with additional information available at communityplanning@nmandd.org