47 EVENTS OF FESTIVAL FUN FOR CAUSEWAY COAST AND GLENS’ COMMUNITIES
Mon, June 22, 2015
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council with the support of the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure, is pleased to announce that forty seven community based organisations from across the borough have been successful in their bids to receive Community Festivals Funding in 2015-2016. These funds are aimed at supporting groups to stage local community festivals and events within the borough. The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Michelle Knight-McQuillan congratulated the groups who received funding and wished them every success with their planned events. Mayor Knight-McQuillan said, “I am very impressed by the high level of interest expressed by local community groups seeking this financial support. Local events and festivals are vital in the promotion of good relations and sense of identity within our communities.” Community Development staff from Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council hosted an induction training workshop for representatives from all participating community organisations. A representative from the group said, "Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council's Community Festival Fund 2015-2016 aims to improve the capacity and sustainability of community festivals across the borough and will enable organisations to celebrate their own unique identity, promote diversity and to strengthen community relations within and between communities. “Each successful applicant in the scheme demonstrated how their event would incorporate strong participation from the community in both the organisation and implementation of the project. Applicants were also required to provide opportunities for people to develop their skills base. This could be in either organising or participating in activities, to demonstrate an ability to make the event as inclusive as possible and to attract visitors to the area. In doing so, aims to encourage local social, community and economic regeneration.” Festival events vary from local community based summer fun festivals taking place in: Limavady; Ballycastle; Coleraine; Ballymoney; Castlerock, Cushendun, Magilligan, Cloughmills, Rasharkin, Bushmills, Portrush and Garvagh to Halloween celebrations, Christmas events and St. Patrick’s Day happening in Portballintrae, Ballymoney and The Glens. These events expand to larger scale community projects such as: Coleraine Twelfth Festival of Culture; Portstewart Red Sails Festival; Kingdom of Dalriada Ulster Scots Festival in Ballymoney and Heart of the Glens Festival based in Cushendall, attracting many visitors to all parts of the Borough. Information will be distributed throughout the area and details for each of the events promoted in the local press nearer the time. For further information on Causeway Coast and Glens Community Development team, please visit www.causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk. Ends