Walking for Health group celebrate first birthday with surprise party

A WALKING group which formed from membership and use of Antrim Community Fridge has celebrated one year of operation.

The project has hugely successful for combating social isolation and loneliness, with many friendships being formed.

Almost 50 walks took place up until August 15 and there are 42 registered walkers.

There have also been trips from Bangor to Buncrana, Toome to Greenmount and Pogue’s Entry to Portrush to name a few.

The Antrim Community Fridge scheme was established in 2023.

The first day of operation saw 220kg of food saved from going to waste.

The group was set up and is run by a group of volunteers and is based at Castle Mall.

The Mall is working with PRSPR Antrim to encourage civic engagement ‘to build a stronger more connected community’.

The space for the scheme was kindly gifted by Homestart, Antrim as their space for the adjacent Baby Bank developed.

A Community Fridge is a shared space for everyone, that combines the efforts of local people and businesses towards reducing food waste.

The scheme provides food for takeaway from the front of the unit.

Anyone passing can take what they need.

The community is encouraged to use what has been donated and save the food from going to landfill.

Through involvement with the Community Fridge, a number of other groups have evolved, including the Walking for Health group.

Antrim Community Fridge also helped organise a hugely cross-cultural Mini Mela event at Castle Mall last year.

Marking Good Relations Week, the event brought together the worlds of dance and music, global cuisine, and amazing arts and crafts experiences for all the family.

At the special first birthday party for the Walking for Health group last week, walk leaders David Glass and Anne Thompson brought members from a walk through Castle Gardens and along the Lough Shore, back to Clotworthy House, where the members were surprised with balloons and a special cake.

Pamela Minford of Castle Mall said: “This has been a very successful project for combating social isolation and loneliness, the friendships that have been formed just blow me away.

“It was the least we could do to organise a birthday party for the group, to recognise how many miles have been covered and how many connections have been made.

“We look forward to many new walks and welcoming new members.”

Another offshoot is the new Community Garden, which has transformed an underused space at Antrim Library into a flourishing, accessible hub filled with flowers, vegetables, herbs and seating areas.

The initiative is designed to support the local food network while offering a peaceful place for library customers to relax, connect and grow.