Radius Housing have launched the ‘Rainey Day’ Fund in partnership with Hare’s Corner Co-operative, with a total of £35,000 available for community wellbeing ideas.

Lisa Mooney, communities officer for Radius Housing, explained: “Any group of two or more people, eight-years-old and up, who live, work, play, learn, or volunteer with five miles of Coleraine can bid for part of the fund. There will be pots of £500, £3000 and £5000 available to bring community wellbeing ideas to life.”

Radius Housing is a leading social housing provider, who manage more than 13,000 homes across Northern Ireland and build more than 300 new homes each year. In 2018 they completed the Laurel Hill Gardens shared housing development in Coleraine. Over the past five years, in their Good Relations Plan for Laurel Hill Gardens, Radius have partnered with 59 local organisations and delivered over 59,000 participant hours at programme and events.

Bridie Doherty, Area Housing Manager said “The community in Coleraine is very proactive and we have been able to support and partner some truly impactful work. The Rainey Day Fund will close out our Laurel Hill Gardens Housing for All, Shared Housing programme, by committing the entire last year of funding to this participatory budgeting process where the community itself will decide the spend.”

Karin Eyben from Hare’s Corner Co-operative added, "The Hare's Corner Co-operative are delighted to be supporting this participatory budgeting process in Coleraine, building on the practice being grown across the Council area and Northern Ireland.

"Participatory budgeting is a gift to all those working in community development, as it focuses our attention on relationships, fairness, the often-hidden skills and talents around us, collective action and how and who gets to make decisions around the spending of public money."

If you would like to find out more about the Rainey Day fund, ask questions, talk about your ideas or get some help to complete the short Bid Form, Lisa and Karin are holding some drop in information sessions, the next of which is happening at Bob & Berts, Portstewart; 8th July, 6pm – 9pm.

The ‘Rainey Day Fund is supported by the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme.

The Programme has its origins in the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy which reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society.

Radius currently has 14 shared housing developments across Northern Ireland including Laurel Hill Gardens in Coleraine.

All developments are supported by Good Relations Plans, including ‘Bridging’ events which are delivered to the wider community to encourage a range of good relations outcomes which include Health and Wellbeing, Arts & Culture and Education and Training.

Almost £2.1 million has been invested in the Laurel Hill Gardens Shared Housing development and associated five-year Good Relations Plan.