None.

None.

None.

The following needs and issues were also identified through our research:

Health and Wellbeing

• Loneliness and isolation.
• Support for, and engagement with, older people is welcomed.
• There is a lack of awareness among older age groups of our existing offering of health, wellbeing, and social opportunities.

Financial Health

• More concessions are welcomed for leisure and arts and cultural programmes for people on lower incomes e.g. free swims for children.

Skills and Employment

• Citizens would like the opportunity to develop their skills and improve their employment prospects.
• They felt any opportunities to do so should be open to all age groups.

Safety

• Insufficient leisure and recreational provision for young people can lead to loitering, littering, vandalism, and anti-social behaviour, which can result in people feeling unsafe within the borough’s parks, playparks, town centres, and sporting facilities.

Communication

• People of all ages do not use social media, and would like us to use some more traditional forms of communication.
• Feedback indicates a lack of awareness of our offerings, such as programmes for leisure, socialising, nature and outdoor recreation, arts and cultural activities, town centre events, skills development and volunteering opportunities, and poverty support.

Leisure and Recreation

• The need for safe and accessible outdoor space was noted within both urban and rural areas.
  There is a demand for more sports, recreation, and play provision for children and young people, particularly ages 12+, including indoor facilities that can be supervised or locked (to deter anti-social behaviour), and investment in our leisure centres, sporting facilities, and playparks.
• Our leisure centres are well used by a variety of different age groups.
  Users would like an extension of opening hours, the opening of facilities on bank holidays, and more cleaning.
  Feedback indicates an excess in demand for our MEAqua Programme and Summer Schemes.
• We should ensure adequate and accessible toilet provision across the borough, including indoor and outdoor venues, during events, and within our town centres.
  We should also consider the provision of Changing Places toilets.

Local Economy and Town Centres

• Some ideas to improve town centre accessibility included more pedestrian areas for safer and more enjoyable events, and for more seating and toilet provision, particularly for use in the evening and during events.

A Cleaner Borough

• The importance of working with young people was stressed.
• We should work closely with local community and voluntary groups, and schools on green initiatives.

Waste Management and Recycling

• Citizens would like recycling to be simpler.

None.

None.

The following needs and issues were also identified through our research:

• Evidence shows most women and girls in Northern Ireland have experienced some form of gender-based violence from everyday misogyny and sexual harassment to extreme physical and sexual violence.
• There have been over 20 domestic homicides with a female victim since January 2020 and these numbers continue to rise.
• A whole-of-society and a whole-of-government approach is needed to end this; it is vital to tackle the root causes of violence against women and girls to help stop violence before it starts.
• This is an immediate priority of the Programme for Government.

(Source: NI Executive).

• Citizens have indicated their support for programmes and activities that address violence against women and girls.

The following needs and issues were also identified through our research:

Health and Wellbeing

• Council must consider the needs of people with disabilities to ensure equal access to all buildings, venues, and events, including the provision of quiet spaces.
• Concern regarding age caps placed on parents being able to attend classes with their children, noting that this can prevent children with special needs being able to engage in activities.

Skills and Employment

• Health is a significant barrier to economic activity.
• Citizens would like the opportunity to develop their skills and improve their employment prospects.
  They felt any opportunities to do so should be open to everyone.
• Reasonable adjustments should be made for people with disabilities to apply for jobs within the Council and the local area.
• Council should hold job fairs and ensure they are accessible to all, for example, provision of interpreters.

Communication

• Council should provide all information in alternative formats to ensure equal access for everyone.

Partnership

• Council should involve people with lived experience in planning and delivery, including people who have a disability.

Leisure and Recreation

• The need for safe and accessible outdoor space was noted, within both urban and rural areas.
• There is support for continued investment in leisure facilities, including for more provision for people with additional needs, such as quiet spaces and gym equipment.
  A hydro pool was noted by one respondent as ‘a must’.
• We must ensure adequate toilet provision across the borough, including the provision of disabled toilets at outside venues and events, and within town centres.
• We should also consider providing Changing Places Toilets within our venues.
• Recognition of the ‘Can’t Wait’ card was suggested for people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
• Our parks should be wheelchair friendly and have ample disabled parking.

Local Economy and Town Centres

• Some ideas to improve town centre accessibility included more pedestrian areas for safer and more enjoyable events, and for more seating and toilet provision, particularly for use in the evenings and during events.

Waste management and recycling

• There are currently two dry recycling household collection models operating within Mid and East Antrim borough, a twin-stream blue bin, and kerbside boxes.
  Our citizens have indicated they would like recycling to be simpler and easier.

The Performance Improvement Plan is envisaged to have a positive impact on people with dependents.

Health and wellbeing

• Loneliness and isolation are key issues amongst older age groups, but this can affect anyone.
• Support for, and engagement with, older people is welcomed.
• There was a lack of awareness among older age groups of our health, wellbeing, and social opportunities on offer.
• Concern regarding age caps placed on parents being able to attend classes with their children, noting that this can prevent children with special needs being able to engage in activities.
• More concessions are welcomed for people on lower incomes, such as free swims, free swimming lessons for children, weekly leisure centre membership options, and discounted rates for arts and cultural activities.

Skills and Employment

• Health and access to affordable childcare are significant barriers to economic activity.
• Our citizens would like the opportunity to develop their skills and improve their employment prospects.
  They felt any opportunities to do so should be open to all age groups i.e. school leavers, adults, women, and mothers etc.

Safety

• Insufficient leisure and recreational provision for ages 12+ can lead to loitering, littering, vandalism, and anti-social behaviour.
  This can result in people feeling unsafe within the borough’s parks, play parks, town centres, and sporting facilities (for example, glass on pitches).

Leisure and recreation

• The need for safe and accessible outdoor space was noted, within both urban and rural areas.
• Feedback implies an excess in demand for some of our leisure programmes, such as the MEAqua programme and Summer Schemes, with people lacking awareness of the opening of spaces, meaning they missed out on opportunities to enrol.
• There is a demand for more sports, recreation, and play provision for children and young people, particularly ages 12+, including indoor facilities that can be supervised or locked, such as bowling and soft play.
• Citizens would like continued investment in our sporting facilities and playparks (Ballykeel 1, Fisherwick, and Sunnylands were noted as needing investment).
• We must ensure adequate toilet provision across the borough, including the provision of disabled toilets at outside venues and events, and within town centres.
  We should also consider providing Changing Places Toilets within our venues.
• People would like more security at our outdoor facilities, such as playparks, for example the locking of gates, the installation of CCTV, improved lighting, more cleaning, and the consideration of security during project planning.