Issue 241 - East Down BT24 • BT30 • BT31 • BT33
Live Here Love Here Community Awards 2024
Live Here Love Here, Northern Ireland’s people-powered campaign dedicated to promoting civic pride and fostering environmental stewardship, has announced the recipients of its 2024 Community Awards.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Cllr Valerie Harte and Cllr Gareth Sharvin were among those celebrating the recent announcement of £600,000 Department for Communities Funding.
Projects in Downpatrick and Newcastle to Receive Almost £600,000 Department for Communities Funding
Council plans for Dunleath Skate Park and Pump Track and a temporary events space at the Newcastle Centre site are to proceed with major funding from the Department for Communities (DfC). At a meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Active and Healthy Communities Committee recently , members heard that contracts for funding between Council and DfC had now been agreed for both projects.
This means that the Dunleath Skate Park Project, due to be delivered by March 2025, will receive £390,176.36 of DfC funding, in support of Downpatrick’s Living High Streets framework, with an additional Council
contribution of £25,000. DfC is also funding the flexible temporary events space at the rear of the N e w c a s t l e Centre with £200,000, with work due to commence in the coming weeks. Communities
Minister, Gordon Lyons MLA said, “I am pleased to be able to support the Dunleath Skate Park that was identified as a high priority project in the recently published Downpatrick Living High Streets Framework.
The awards, sponsored by Belfast Harbour and supported by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), took place on Thursday 29 February, and celebrated the many individuals, schools, and community organisations, that dedicate their time to improving the environment through activities such as education, litter-picking, and tackling biodiversity loss. Following a nomination period which was open to the public throughout January, 12 awards were distributed on the evening. Saintfield Community Association Environment Team received the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Champions Award in recognition of their commitment to carrying out environmental improvement
schemes, seasonal planting and weekly tidying activities, including picking up litter on all main roads leading into Saintfield. Newcastle’s Ark Community Gardens received the Community Together Award, supported by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, in acknowledgement of their efforts to address community division through environmental action.2024 marks 10 years of Live Here Love Here, detailing the campaign’s ongoing commitment to improving communities across Northern Ireland and empowering people to protect the environment. Some of Live Here Love Here’s initiative include Big Spring Clean and Adopt a Spot. For more information visit www.liveherelovehere. org.