Ballyvea Football Club Awarded Funding for Community Health and Wellbeing Hub

Ballyvea Football Club Ltd has been awarded £270,000 of grant funding from Mourne, Gullion & Lecale Rural Development Partnership (MGL) for the development of a new Community Health and Wellbeing Hub.

The Rural Development Programme is funded by the Basic Services Scheme of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ (DAERA) Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme (NIRDP) 2014-2020. Delivery of the NIRDP is administered by MGL, on behalf of DAERA, under the LEADER approach with local people making the decisions on funding.

The funding from the NIRDP, along with a significant contribution from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, will enable Ballyvea Football Club to create vital facilities for both club members and the wider community. The new multi-use facility will provide a range of cross-community services including workshops, classes, activities and sporting events. 

Chairperson of MGL, Councillor Roisin Mulgrew said, “The Local Action Group is delighted to be able to award £270,000 of funding to Ballyvea Football Club. The new Health and Wellbeing Hub, located within the club grounds, will offer the wider community the opportunity to avail of an excellent facility for hosting a variety of activities for all ages and abilities.

“The Health and Wellbeing Hub is a welcome and important addition to the current facilities offered by the club and will complement the existing community facilities within the local area which are currently in high demand.”   

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Charlie Casey said, “The Rural Development funding is helping to provide vital community facilities and in turn supports the Council’s Community Plan vision of having accessible services for local residents, improving their quality of life”.

Jerome Burns, Contract Manager, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said, “ The Leader Programme, through which this project is being funded, enables local people to determine the needs of their own area and decide how best to address these and this is an excellent example of how the Programme is delivering on the ground.  I have every confidence that Ballyvea Football Club Ltd, with its extensive number of dedicated volunteers and committee members, will enable this project to reach its full potential and be a resounding success for the future”.

Development of the Health and Wellbeing Hub has commenced, and aims to be completed by Summer 2020, when Ballyvea Football Club will welcome the wider community to avail of the new facilities and services.

For more information on Mourne, Gullion and Lecale Rural Development Partnership and its funding schemes visit: www.mournegullionlecale.com