Larne Area Community Cluster, in partnership with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, have supported community groups throughout Larne by providing vital advice, guidance and training on key topic areas through a series of workshops.
Over the past year, 12 training courses were held focusing on a range of issues including first aid, food hygiene, defibrillators, social media training, managing volunteers and a funding information roadshow. Over 170 people attended the training sessions and events from the Larne area between December 2022 and March 2023.
Over 30 community groups also attended two separate planning workshops to help advance community development in the Larne area as part of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s community development initiative, “The Cluster Programme”.
The aim of the workshops, which took place between December 2022 and March 2023, was to facilitate the development of a 2-year, community development-focused, action plan for the Larne Area.
It follows the establishment of the “Larne Area Community Cluster”, which promotes collaboration across local community groups to deliver benefits for the wider community. The cluster began in April 2022 with just over 20 members – it has now more than doubled in less than a year with 48 members registered – including groups from the District Electoral Areas of Coast Road and Larne Lough, from Carnlough to Ballycarry and everywhere in between.
The 2-year action plan for the Larne Area has begun to be implemented and includes further training for the community groups involved, plus the development of a Larne Area Community Cluster Directory – the creation of a resource both online and in hardcopy, which will signpost the local community to groups and services in the area.
Upcoming work over the next year includes further workshops within the community and engaging with statutory bodies on issues such as transport in the Larne Lough and Larne Coast DEAs.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Noel Williams, said he was delighted with the extensive community participation in the Cluster Programme: “As our Community Plan, “Putting People First”, says, we want to offer our citizens a strong, vibrant, safe and inclusive area in which to live, where people work together to improve everyone’s quality of life,” he said.
“The work of Larne Area Community Cluster is continually growing and it is encouraging to know that there are now 48 groups registered as members and working in partnership with Council to help build and strengthen community cohesion and I would encourage all local groups in the Larne area to get involved in this initiative.
“Prosperous futures are built from the grass roots up and by aiming high. Our aim is to offer a better quality of life – and by extension a bright future – to all of our citizens.”
Through community development, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council aspires to be recognised as a place where the community and partner organisations work together cohesively and effectively to improve the quality of life for its residents.
Groups in the District Electoral Areas of Coast Road and Larne Lough, which stretches from Carnlough to Whitehead, have been meeting on a bi-monthly basis since April 2022 to develop an agreed approach on working together, as well as to determine which initiatives to deliver in the coming months.
The benefits of community cluster work include:
- Having the ability to network and build relationships with fellow community groups in the area.
- Opportunity to gain a greater understanding of what is going on in the local community and access any available support for community groups.
- Pooling of resources e.g., joining together for training, potential for hands-on assistance at events from fellow community groups and sharing equipment
- Opportunity to share knowledge, experiences and best practice.
- Avoidance of duplication by focusing on a joint action plan to tackle issues in the community.
- Potential to reach more people in the community through a supportive community group network and joined-up approach.
- Possibility of greater access to funding through joint applications.
If you are part of a community group in Larne and would like to find out more information, please contact either;
Wendy Carson, District Electoral Area Officer for Larne Lough
Tel: 07966888131
Email wendy.carson@midandeastantrim.gov.uk
OR
Amanda Cotter, District Electoral Area Officer for Larne Coast Road
Tel: 07391863492
