Local Community Has Its Say on Funding for Youth Projects

Residents in Newry, Mourne and Down have voted for a series of innovative youth projects to receive funding as part of the Youth Leading Change campaign.

The funding for 15 youth organisations – who pitched projects ranging from boxing to urban allotments – is being made available through ‘Communities Leading Change’ Participatory Budgeting Pilots. The pilots have been developed to support youth focussed ideas put forward by the local community, and which the local community have an opportunity to vote on.

The successful projects were announced at a special awards ceremony hosted by Pamela Ballantine, on Saturday, 24 November in Newry’s Canal Court Hotel. Representatives from almost all of the organisations, which entered a project, attended and enjoyed an interactive event where everyone was able to view each other’s project video and have fun voting for best video, soundtrack and story. 

In addition to £500 of funding, the successful groups received certificates and cinema tickets at the event. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairman, Councillor Mark Murnin, who attended the awards said, “Well done to everyone who took time to enter their project ideas into this fantastic initiative. The response from the public was overwhelming and I was particularly gratified to see that over 2000 people voted online for the groups they believed deserved these funds.

“My congratulations go to the 15 youth organisations which were successful in obtaining funding for their projects, which ranged from boxing to scouting, from drama to Special Olympics, from cultural groups to environmental ones from across the entire the district.

“I want to thank all the groups for taking the time and effort to produce such professional videos about their project ideas, the community who voted online and everyone who attended the awards event. Since this Participatory Budgeting Initiative was introduced earlier this year, 21 groups have received funding for their projects. I look forward to seeing how they come to life and the positive impact they will have on their communities.

“An event is planned for next year to catch up with all the groups who gained funding to see how their projects have progressed and the difference they have made.”

Also attending the event were representatives from Southern Trust, South Eastern Trust, NI Housing Executive, Department for Communities, County Down Rural Community Network and Confederation for Community Groups.