 |
|
|
|
|
Cushendall Development Group Profile |
Cushendall is located in the Heart of the Glens of Antrim, which are
in the N.E. corner of Ireland. The area's natural beauty was officially
confirmed when it was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty (AONB).
The
village and parish itself has a growing population of approximately
2400 and its unique character has been recognised that in 1973 it
was designated as only the second Conservation Area in Northern Ireland.
Agriculture
is the main economic activity, with the public and service sector
also being very significant. There is a high level of unemployment.
The Cushendall Development Group was formed in October 1990 in response
to a growing realisation that locally based initiatives were needed
to stimulate development in the village.
Membership of the group is open to anyone living, working or interested
in the area and presently there are 80 individual members and 35 business
/ group members.
- To research and identify needs within
the community
- To encourage more people to become involved
in community development, particularly young people, the unemployed
and women
- To promote, encourage and advise
on development initiatives
- To support and promote the creation of additional
employment
- To encourage, social, recreational, cultural
and educational activities
- To act as a liaising body between key organisations.
- NLCB: Secured funding from 2000 - 2003
from NLCB to employ F/T Development Officer and P/T Administrative
Officer plus running costs to sustain community office.
- Middle Glens Exhibition: Completed 14
exhibition panels on Life in the Middle Glens' which are portable,
but currently on display in the Old School House, Cushendall.They
have recently been displayed in Dublin and will be on display in
Scotland in June and July 2002.
- Community Resource Base: Office continues
to provide ongoing support for local groups and individuals. Recently
introduced Internet access for the public.
- Environment Group: Brightened up the
village by placing flower tubs at various points. Also continue
to lobby Council on environmental matters such as improvements to
the beach, waste management etc.
- Antrim Glens Tourism:
This group followed on from the Tourism & Rural Industry Partnership
who organised walking weekends to encourage tourism outside the
summer months. Also produced a promotional leaflet on Cushendall.
The newly formed group currently have 33 members. Their work involves
promoting tourism in the area and they have recently provided their
response to the Causeway Master Plan.
- Big Picture Book: With the support of
Arts Council funds we completed the Cushendall Big Picture Book.
That is pictures of over 80% of households that live in Cushendall
all included in one book. There is one master copy kept in the local
library and we also produced smaller individual copies that are
available to purchase.
- Townlands in Cushendall: Project funded
by Heritage Lottery. Worked with local Primary School children to
gain a better understanding of the townlands in the village. Produced
a booklet with information on the 64 townlands which was launched
mid July 2001.
- Paint Scheme: Secured £10,000 CRISP
Spruce Up funding to undertake a village Paint Scheme. This offered
properties within the core of the village 50% of costs of paint
& labour. Completed late 2001.
- Tourist Booklet: Produced 2001/02 version
of the 'Heart of the Glens Guide', due to the popularity of the
previous two editions.
- Community Festival: Run
the Heart of the Glens Festival for the forteenth year in succession
(occurs mid-August).
The 15th annual Heart of the Glens Festival will be held from Saturday
6th to Sunday 14th August 2005.
|
|
Other initiatives
have included: |
- Old School: The Group's major project
has been the CRISP scheme, which attracted £550,000 in funding
from DOE and IFI. This has involved the refurbishment of the old
village school in Mill Street, Cushendall for use as shops, offices,
and workshops. This opened in October 1994 and all the units are
now occupied.
- Additional Benefits of CRISP: An important
element has also been the funding for derelict buildings and sites,
which has been made available to local business in the village,
which has resulted in several new commercial premises such as a
restaurant and shop units. The Group has maximised the impact of
the CRISP improvements by obtaining additional funding from DANI,
Moyle Council and the private sector.
- Environmental Improvements: There have
also been several major Environmental Improvement schemes, which
are now completed:
- improvements to the beach and surrounding area
- upgrading of Stoney Loanin footpath
- improvements to the Mill Street carpark and riverside walk on
Shore Street
- Flood Protection Scheme: Worked with
DANI to plan and implement major flood protection scheme for the
village.
- Newsletter: Produce five editions per
year of the Cushendall Focus (circulation 400 per edition).
- Tourist Booklet: Produced three editions
of 'Heart of the Glens Guide' Tourist Booklet.
- Rural Development Council: Core Member
of the RDC Action Research Alliance. This research involved selected
Community Groups from all over Ireland sharing experiences of social
exclusion. The Research Alliance then investigates possible methods
of involving excluded members of the community to become more active
in "Community Development". The project chosen by CDG
was an illustrated map of the village. In producing this map a new
group was formed and the map is now available locally.
- Community Audit: Undertook a Community
Audit to assess local needs (Oct '98). Every household in the village
was requested to complete a questionnaire and a 40% return rate
was achieved.
- New Groups: From this audit two new groups
were formed to take forward issues of concern in the community-
Cushendall Environment Group and the Tourism and Rural Industry
Partnership.
- European Exchanges: Also have taken
part in two European Exchanges: first with Celtic region in N. Italy
through the local Comhaltas group- an exchange of traditional music
and dance, and also a community development exchange with a group
in Sweden.
- Cottage Site: Currently examining
the potential of developing the ‘Cottage Site’ possibly
into some sort of cultural/heritage facility. We are also
working along with Moyle District Council to have a woodland area
in the site.
- The “Greener” Glens
of Antrim: Cushendall Development Group have developed
a partnership with community groups in the nearby villages of Glenariff
and Cushendun to set up a community business to recycle , reuse
and compost in the Glens of Antrim. We are currently sourcing funding
for the project and have secured funds from the New Opportunities
Fund and Moyle District Council. It is anticipated that the scheme
will be up and running mid 2005.
- Actively Ageing Well:
This is an initiative by Age Concern Northern Ireland and the Health
Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland. We have been chosen as a
participating community. Over 50s will be given the opportunity
to take part in risk assessed, relatively low level, physical activity
programmes that are designed to enhance health and well being.
We are in the process of organising a series of 6 week activities
for people to learn old time dancing which will begin on February
11th 2005
- Community Forum: Plan to initiate a
forum to represent groups in the Cushendall area. This has been
kick-started with the organisation of a 'Funders Fair' to stimulate
the flow of information.
- Partnership: To work in partnership with
other groups in the area and to encourage new initiatives that could
benefit the district. The idea of a Community Forum is one the group
is currently examining.
- Participation: To encourage more people
to become involved in community development particularly younger
people, the unemployed and women as without widespread involvement
from the community the development momentum will be diluted.
- Cushendall C.A.P. (Community Action
Plan): The group carried out some research in the area
with the aim of developing an action plan for the next 1 to 2 years
in early 2004. We have enlisted a group of younger volunteers to
carry out the research giving them the opportunity to work in the
community and become involved in work that will hopefully benefit
their future. The Action Plan has now been developed and we have
set up a new Youth Committee for the younger generation to become
involved in community development and to be part of the decision
making in the area. We are also addressing issues such as
the environment, community participation and health issues.
- Membership: We thus hope to extend our
already extensive membership and ensure that we are as representative
a group as possible. There are thus regular opportunities to keep
our community involved in our on-going activities.
- Office Services: To improve, develop
and extend services in line with community needs. We have
just recenlty helped to bring broadband to the area and provide
this service to the general public five days a week. We also
provide other computer services, photocopying and faxing facilities.
The Group is also represented on more widely based groups such as
North Antrim Community Network, LEADER +, Moyle Local Strategy Partnership
(LSP), NIAPA etc. We appreciate the need to work at a Glens and
a Northern Ireland level to maximise the gain to our area from all
the recent Rural Development initiatives.
Committee
Chairperson: Bernadette Delargy
Treasurer: Francis McCurry
Secretary: Bernie Harvey
Member: Andrew McAlister
Member: Joanne Quinn
Member: Ann McLaughlin
Staff
Development Officer: Orla Black
Administration Trainee: Aine McClafferty
Orla
Black
Development Officer
Cushendall Development Group
Old School House
25 Mill Street
Cushendall
BT44 ORR
Tel /
Facsimile: (0044) 028 2177 1378
e-mail:
|
|
|
