New capacity building project is launched

Three years after the inaugural meeting of Antrim and Newtownabbey PEACEPLUS Partnership in October 2022 and eight months after Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council launched their Co-designed Local Community Action Plan, this week they launched a new project that will ‘help local communities grow stronger and work together for a shared future’.

The WEAVE project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). 

The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) has allocated £4.4 million to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to deliver the Antrim and Newtownabbey PEACEPLUS Local Community Action Plan that will help build peace and reconciliation in the Borough.

Although little details are known yet on the delivery of the nine programme areas outlined in the Action Plan, the launch event, titled the Weaving Our Future Together – Where Every Thread Counts, brought together key members of the community, including local leaders, representatives of community groups and Mayor Leah Kirkpatrick, who delivered the opening address.

 Built around the guiding themes; We Educate, We Empower, We Engage, the conference invited participants to ‘share their experiences, identify local needs, and help shape how WEAVE will support community development across the Borough in the years ahead’.

 Guest speakers included Lauri McCusker, Director of The Fermanagh Trust and Charmain Jones, Women’s Spaces Co-ordinator at the Northern Ireland Rural Women’s Network.

Both highlighted ‘the strength and importance of the people in our community and encouraged local groups to continue their great work’.

 Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick said, “The enthusiasm and participation shown at this event really demonstrates the strength of our local communities.

“WEAVE is about helping people to learn, connect and grow together so we can build a brighter future for everyone.”

The morning finished with lunch and networking in the aptly titled, The Weavers Café at Mossley Mill.