New Borough-Wide Community Forum Holds First Meeting
Community representatives from across Antrim and Newtownabbey came together at Mossley Mill on Thursday 29 October for the first official meeting of the newly established Antrim and Newtownabbey Community Forum.
The Forum brings together 28 nominated representatives from across Antrim and Newtownabbey, including community and voluntary organisations from each of the Borough's seven District Electoral Areas, alongside representatives from organisations working on a Borough-wide basis. Volunteer Now is also involved in an advisory capacity, providing additional support and expertise. This diverse membership will help ensure that a wide range of community perspectives and experiences inform discussions and help shape future priorities of the Borough.
At the inaugural meeting, members were introduced to the Forum's purpose, roles and responsibilities and discussed its future direction. Wendy Kerr and Kathy Wolff were also appointed as Co-Chairs, taking on the role of guiding the Forum's work and representing its agreed priorities.
The new Borough-Wide Community Forum builds on the work of the seven existing DEA Community Forums, which provide important local platforms for community organisations, voluntary groups and residents to identify priorities and influence positive change in their areas.
Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Henry Cushinan, said:
“The first official meeting of the Borough Community Forum is an exciting step forward in strengthening the voice of our communities and ensuring that local people and organisations have opportunities to help shape the future of the Borough.
“By bringing representatives together from across Antrim and Newtownabbey, the Forum will help build stronger relationships, encourage partnership working and ensure that the experiences and priorities of our communities are heard and understood.”
The Community Forum forms part of the wider WEAVE initiative – We Educate, We Empower, We Engage – delivered through the PEACEPLUS Local Community Action Plan under Strand 2: Thriving and Peaceful Communities, Programme 4: Our Shared Borough.
Supported by PEACEPLUS, the WEAVE programme has received an investment of £445,658.09 to deliver nine threads of activity aimed at building stronger, more inclusive and connected communities across the Borough.
The Forum will meet quarterly, providing members with an ongoing opportunity to share community insight and contribute to relevant Council strategies, plans and programmes, helping ensure community perspectives are heard in decisions that affect local people.