Community Groups
Ballee
Ballee Community Association works with and on behalf of the residents of the entire Ballee area. Bringing Ballee together, their 60+ Luncheon Club continues to be a great success with over 60 members attending each week. Members of the Club receive a hot meal each week as well as enjoying the odd trip to places right across the country. The Club provides social opportunities for the seniors in the area, befriending services and chances for volunteering. The Club meets every Wednesday morning in Ballee Community Centre from 10am. If you would like any other information about the 60+ Luncheon Club please contact the Ballymena South Cluster office:
M: Ballymena South Community Cluster Ballee Community Centre, Ballee, Ballymena, BT42 3EX
E: hello@ballymenasouth.com
Ballee Community Association manages Supertots, a parent and toddlers group. The group meets every Friday morning, term-time, from 10am, also in Ballee Community Centre. This group was awarded 3 years of Children in Need funding due to the hard work that its team have put into this essential service over the years. Parents & toddlers from all over Ballymena take part each week and it has become a much loved and well-run service. Ballee Community Association also manages the Ballee Community Childcare, which continues to flourish. The Pre-Preschool runs Monday - Wednesday 9am - 11am with the Preschool opening Monday to Friday 9am - 11.30am and 12.30pm - 3pm and the Afterschool opening 2pm - 6pm Monday - Friday.
The Centre, which boasts the highest awarded score for childcare provision in a recent inspection, is a benchmark in its field and is seen as one of the best providers of early years care in the area. An outdoor Mud Kitchen, which has recently been installed, is just one of this centre’s many outstanding
features.
For more information about Ballee Community Childcare please contact Kim Rodgers on :
T: 028 2563 8628
Seven Towers Community Association
Seven Towers Community Association is a group that operates in the Drumtara area of Ballee. This small group has seen many big achievements in the last number of years. This includes the opening of a play park in Drumtara, allowing children to have a safe space to play right on their doorstep having to cross any major roads or travel any distance to get there.
The group opened and manage an extremely successful set of community allotments. The allotments are well designed and maintained by the local residents and allow the opportunity for learning and the development of new skills. As well as this the group and residents work together to grow and cultivate produce that is then turned into various products.
Seven Towers operate out of Community House where there are many ongoing activities throughout the year including cookery classes, ladies keep-fit and the Ballee Boppers Hip-Hop dance classes.
Ballykeel
Ballykeel has two groups representing the residents and offering a wide range of services in the area.
Ballykeel Together Development Association
Ballykeel Together Development Association was formed to represent the residents of the whole Ballykeel area. The group provides a range of services for local residents including environmental clean-ups, youth dance class, special needs youth club and a mature adult’s luncheon club.
The mature adult’s luncheon Club meets once a month on the third Wednesday and caters for 80 residents aged 50 and over. This has proven to be an extremely successful venture and is currently funded by the Department for Communities under their Neighbourhood Renewal programme.
If you would like any other information about the Luncheon Club please contact the Cluster office:
M: Ballymena South Community Cluster Ballee Community Centre, Ballee, Ballymena, BT42 3EX
E: hello@ballymenasouth.com
The group also offers 2 weekly activities for Children in the area. The first of these is The Illusion Dance Crew hip-hop dance classes which happen on Wednesday nights from 7:00-8:30 in Ballykeel Community Centre. The other is Bright Stars Special Needs Youth Club, an extremely popular club for children & young people in the area with a wide range of additional needs. This club is the first of its kind in the area and is held in high esteem throughout Ballymena South. Bright Stars also meets on Wednesday nights from 7am-9am in Ballykeel Community Centre.
As well as this the group have recently installed a Memorial Garden in the Ballykeel Business Centre. The group have worked exceptionally had to make this garden a reality and it certainly shows.
Ballykeel 1 Moving Forward Community Group
Ballykeel 1 Moving Forward Community Group operates in the Ballykeel 1 area. They aim to represent and provide a service to the residents of the Ballykeel 1 estate. The group focus on environmental and housing issues as well as providing social events for residents such as a breakfast club, Christmas Fair and party as well as a rocheting class.
The Breaky Club meets every Tuesday morning 9am – 11am in Ballykeel Community Centre. Please feel free to drop in for good food and good craic. Two new remembrance poppies and two memorial summer seats have been added by the group to the mural at the entrance to Ballykeel 1.
Other events include community bus trips, dance classes for adults, fishing trips for young adults, hair & makeup classes. All of the events are free of charge, but booking is essential.
T: 07764850945
E: ballykeel1mfcg@outlook.com
Harryville
Harryville is a renowned section of the town and this can be seen in the number of activities happening on a weekly basis.
Harryville Partnership Initiative
Harryville Partnership Initiative is a community organisation which aims to provide representation and assistance for the residents of the Harryville area. The volunteers within the group aim to tackle issues such as housing, environment, anti-social behaviour and employment.
Braidwater Seniors meets on Monday and Thursday mornings each week where they take part in a number of activities including their famous Knotty Knitters knitting club. Knotty Knitters produce a wide range of knitted products such as teddy bears, blankets and clothing that are then donated to various causes, such as the Neo-Natal Unit in Antrim Hospital.
The Partnership also offers a youth drop-in facility and youth club service for local disadvantaged, disengaged and marginalised young people. This is an essential service that works in direct contact with young people in the area, offering programmes to develop their interpersonal skills.
Harryville Men's Shed is very busy with numerous projects for men who can spare a few hours each week to help with community projects or more personal ideas. The men have a group who are interested in doing light exercise and socialising that meet every morning upstairs. The Shed has the woodworking shop downstairs where men take on any challenge to help each other carry out a range of different ideas. Throughout the year the shed is used to build bird boxes, feeder tables, flower planters, wishing wells, summer outdoor furniture e.g. benches and tables and even a combination of both.
The Shed’s core funding is from Neighbourhood Renewal, a programme that is delivered by the Department for Communities. Recently the Shed has received additional funding from The Big Lottery Fund to allow them to renovate the centre which will see a new layout and a new lease of life – the men are extremely excited about this.
If any men out there are interested in what we have to offer please do not hesitate to call in for a coffee and a yarn. Contact Denver for more information:
T: 07968 860567
Raglan Place Residents Association
Raglan Plane Residents Association was formed to ensure residents were not facing isolation. The Raglan Place Apartments, a recent development in the Harryville area has been a range of apartments provided by Clanmill Housing Association, is a social housing development for Older People in the heart of Harryville.
Many of those who live in the apartments came together to form a committee that could provide events, trips, social gatherings and any other assistance that residents would need. They hold regular Coffee Evenings that encourage everyone to socialise with one another ensuring that nobody feels
isolated. The group also hosts a weekly craft club for the many talented and creative residents who live in the apartments.
Raglan Community Development and Renovation Society
Raglan Community Development and Renovation Society was formed as a community co-operative from the Slemish n tha Braid Credit Union. Their aim is to benefit the community by enhancing and creating social capital in the local area. The renovation of the Raglan building will cost more than £1 million with the public as principal stakeholders. The vision of the group is to bring employment and economic opportunity to Harryville with the purpose of regenerating the area.