Harryville - Community Groups
Our groups in the Harryville areaHarryville Partnership Initiative
HPI are a longstanding community group who have over 15 years of supporting Harryville residents. Both Harryville Men’s Shed and Carson Project emerged out of Harryville Partnership Initiative and both groups are working hard to improve the lives of their community. HPI also looks after the Harryville Youth Club and the Braidwater Seniors Group. The Braidwater Seniors Group meet twice a week for coffee mornings, knitting clubs, and classes. The Naughty Knitters have knitted hats and scarves to be donated to the homeless in Belfast, as well as knitting ‘Joey Sacks’ for the baby kangaroos who lost their mothers in the 2019-20 Australian bush fires. They love to take part in classes learning arts and crafts, flower arranging and cookery. In September 2021 the ladies hosted a MacMillan Coffee Morning and raised £322 for the charity.
For more information about HPI, their activities, projects and volunteering opportunities please visit their facebook page
Visit HPI facebook page
Harryville Men’s Shed
Harryville Men's Shed was established in 2012 and aims to promote good mental and physical health and wellbeing among all its members and the local community. It provides a place where men can meet, socialise, initiate, and execute projects of a practical, notional, literary, artistic, or other nature. The Shed aims to stamp out the curse of social isolation and offers training and awareness sessions, as well as support to all members.
The Shed premises are located at Unit 4/12 Antrim Road, Ballymena and is open Monday to Friday. All local men over the age of 18 are more than welcome to drop in for coffee mornings, to use the gym facilities or to take part in our various projects.
Harryville Men’s Shed have recently taken on a Service Level Agreement with Mid & East Antrim Borough Council, making them responsible for the day-to-day management of Harryville Community Garden. This will provide many opportunities for woodwork, gardening, and healthy eating projects for both Shed members and the wider community.
Harryville Men’s Shed is part-funded by the DfC Neighbourhood Renewal Programme and supports residents in Harryville, Ballee and Ballykeel.
For more information about Harryville Men’s Shed, their activities and volunteering options please visit their facebook page or contact Hannah on 028 256 31350
Visit facebook page
Raglan Community Development Renovation Society (RCDRS)
Following a very successful Community Share Offer, the RCDRS has been working with other potential funders such as DfC and MEABC and other collaborative partners for the past number of years on their proposed plans for the £1.5M renovation of the 1st Floor and rear of the Raglan Building, Queen Street, Ballymena into a be-spoke community & business space, which amongst other things will host the following;
- A dedicated Sensory Space for individuals on the ASD Spectrum, their families & friends
- A commercial kitchen for both community and commercial use
- An array of office and event space, again for both community and commercial use.
Organisations such as the MEAAP, USEL, Braidwater Seniors Group, Ballykeel Together Development Association, Brookeville Enterprise, Olive Lane, DementiaNI & The Carson project have all shown an interest in availing of the facilities that will be on offer when the project is completed at the end of 2022.
For more information about RCDRS, their activities, projects and volunteering opportunities please contact W Millar Secretary/Treasurer on info@theraglan.org
The Carson Project
The Carson Project was established in 2009 to give members of the Loyalist community a positive and meaningful role in a post-conflict society. The organisation is currently funded under the IFI sponsored Peace Impact Programme (P.I.P) and St Stephen's Green Trust, and its office, located at 176 Queen Street is open Monday to Thursday.
The Carson Project operates mainly within the Ballymena South and Greater Ballymena area working primarily but not exclusively with women, young people, and community groups. The project over the years has established beneficial relationships with several groups across Northern Ireland.
The Carson Project's primary focus over the last number of months has been responding to the Covid 19 pandemic. This has included liaising with Council to deliver food parcels to those most adversely affected by the pandemic. We have also operated an emergency phone number which allowed members of the community to contact the Carson Project and staff and volunteers were able to provide support. Carson Project also helped develop a joint up community response to the pandemic.
The Carson Project also carries out much needed work in a variety of fields:
Legacy of the Conflict
Through workshops, discussions and site visits the Carson Project have promoted greater understanding of the conflict and the legacies of the conflict.
Training opportunities
Though curtailed by the pandemic the Carson Project has been able to facilitate the delivery of training with participants gaining qualifications including SIA Door supervision, first aid, child protection and conflict resolution.
Social issues
Carson Project is very active in resolving community issues including but not exclusively landlord issues, anti-social behaviour, tenants’ rights, and mental health issues.
Cultural awareness
Carson Project promotes greater understanding of cultural awareness including carrying out community engagement concerning bonfires, parading, understanding, and promoting positive culture.
Environmental issues
Over the years Carson Project staff and members have been involved in several initiatives addressing environmental issues (both natural and man-made). This has involved regeneration, community clean-ups, addressing fly-tipping through information and liaising with statutory agencies to address this issue.
For more information about the Carson Project please contact Hannah on 028 256 31350 or visit their facebook page
Visit facebook page
Brookeville Enterprises
Brookeville Enterprises have a strong focus on their Scullery O’Tullagh, ‘plot to plate’ initiative, from their base at the Community Allotments at Tullygarley.
Their volunteers have been working hard over the past year to develop the allotments to a point where they now have access to a compostable toilet, three poly-tunnels, two greenhouses, approximately thirty raised beds and a twenty-five square metre covered area, which enables the group to host a variety of workshops centred around horticultural skills and healthy eating.
Brookeville are keen to address health inequalities that emerge from deprivation and provide opportunities for user groups and individuals to take part in activities and learning that will boost both physical and mental health.
If you are interested in their work and would like more information, please private message the group via the Scullery O’Tullagh Facebook Page
Visit facebook page
“Hi, I'm Hannah, I encourage you to reach out and get in touch”
— Hannah Bowyer
Community Development Officer (CDO) Get in Touch