Mournes Community to Have Its Say on Funding

The Mournes community is being invited to have their say on how funding is being spent in their area with an event on 18 October, 7pm at the facilities of Newry Street Unite Community Group, Kilkeel.

The Communities Leading Change campaign, which is part of a pilot to give local communities a say in which local groups can receive up to £500, is part of participatory budgeting exercise being piloted by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairman, Councillor Mark Murnin said, “As Chairman of the Council, I am committed to working with all local communities, putting them at the heart of local service delivery and local decision-making. Engaging our citizens, particularly those who are hard to reach and seldom heard, helps the Council and its partners to understand local issues and develop innovative solutions to improve the quality of life for everyone.

“Through the process of Community Planning, we are doing things differently and we are doing things better, and participatory budgeting marks a dramatic change in the way we usually work. We believe that local communities will safeguard what they have helped to create, which is why we have named the campaign ‘Communities Leading Change’. This is your opportunity to lead the way and be the change you want to see in your local area.

“I hope this is the first of many participatory budgeting programmes across the district, and I would like to wish all the groups the best of luck.”

The projects that are in the running for funding should help to tackle rural isolation, mental health and emotional wellbeing and improving the area. The groups will pitch their ideas and, at the end of all the pitches, everyone attending the event will decide who their favourites are.

The event promises to be interesting and exciting and will give local residents a real say on what projects should be funded in the area. The votes will be counted at the end of the event and the projects with the most votes will be awarded funding.