Mayor’s community volunteers event

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has acknowledged the work of volunteer community centre managers and committees at a special reception in Cloonavin.
Members of Stranocum, Rasharkin and Ballybogey Community Centres including Fiona McDowell, Jimmy Culbertson, Marcus Porter, Annette Wiggins, Alma Murphy and Sean Hanna pictured with the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Councillor Sean Bateson and Council Officers at a recent reception in CloonavinMembers of Stranocum, Rasharkin and Ballybogey Community Centres including Fiona McDowell, Jimmy Culbertson, Marcus Porter, Annette Wiggins, Alma Murphy and Sean Hanna pictured with the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Councillor Sean Bateson and Council Officers at a recent reception in Cloonavin
Members of Stranocum, Rasharkin and Ballybogey Community Centres including Fiona McDowell, Jimmy Culbertson, Marcus Porter, Annette Wiggins, Alma Murphy and Sean Hanna pictured with the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Councillor Sean Bateson and Council Officers at a recent reception in Cloonavin

Councillor Sean Bateson welcomed representatives from Ballybogey, Greysteel, Magilligan, Stranocum and Rasharkin to the event earlier in the month. Operated on behalf of Council, the centres provide a range of services and activities for the local community including luncheon clubs, fitness and educational classes and much more.

Expressing his thanks for the volunteers’ ongoing efforts, the Mayor said: “The impact that these groups make and what they offer cannot be underestimated in terms of community building and reducing social and rural isolation. On behalf of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone for their hard work and dedication which continues to make a positive difference across the area.”

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The Mayor also welcomed some volunteers who have recently retired after many years of service in their communities. This included Daphne and Lyle Quigley who have recently retired from Burnfoot Community Association, Anne Clyde MBE from Garvagh Development Trust and Jimmy Culbertson who has retired from Stranocum Community Centre Ltd.

Daphne and Lyle, along with other members, have developed their community in Burnfoot since the mid 1990s, securing funding in recent years to buy the old school and turn it into a community building.

Anne Clyde has been with Garvagh and District Development Association since 1996. Out of this, Garvagh Development Trust was formed to secure over £1 million, more than 20 years ago, to transform the Garvagh Community Building into what it is today.

In Stranocum, Jimmy was a founding member of the District and Development group since 2010 and was instrumental in working with Ballymoney District Council to secure funds for the new centre.

To find out more about a community centre and the services it can offer go to www.causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk/live/community-services