Community groups bond over breakfast

Deputy Mayor, Councillor John Blair, accompanied by elected members, council officers and community group members from Antrim and Newtownabbey at the community connections breakfast. INNT 46-810CON

The event took place over breakfast in the Templeton Hotel in Templepatrick.

It provided the attendees with an opportunity to discuss Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s plans to create a ‘community development practitioners forum’.

Those at the event were also made aware of the ‘community capacity building’ programme which is running from now until March. The skills sessions, part funded by the Department for Social Development, will run in the evenings and include topics such as understanding budgets, first aid and an introduction to community development. Kerry Brady, Community Support Officer for the council, has encouraged people to take part in the courses.

“You don’t need any previous experience to take part and the sessions will cover a whole range of interesting and useful topics. As we all know it can be expensive to take part in skills improvement sessions and if your group has two members wishing to attend each session you will easily save over £1,000 in training expenses as each course costs only £5 per person,” she said.

For further information call 028 9034 0000 or check out the council’s website.