Creative kids boost Northlands project

Children from the Woodburn and Sunnylands areas have put their creative skills to the test in a competition run by Carrick Council.
Receiving Certificates of Achievement as part of the Northlands Project are Sunnylands Primary School pupils Dylan Langridge, Mark Armstrong and Bailey Irvine, along with Ellie-Rose McDowell from Woodlawn Primary School. Inluded are (from left) Sam Martin from DSD; Claire Crawford, project worker; Mayor of Carrickfergus, Alderman Billy Ashe; Ian Mullen, principal of Woodlawn Primary School; and Gareth Hamilton, principal of Sunnylands Primary School. INCT 13-003-PSBReceiving Certificates of Achievement as part of the Northlands Project are Sunnylands Primary School pupils Dylan Langridge, Mark Armstrong and Bailey Irvine, along with Ellie-Rose McDowell from Woodlawn Primary School. Inluded are (from left) Sam Martin from DSD; Claire Crawford, project worker; Mayor of Carrickfergus, Alderman Billy Ashe; Ian Mullen, principal of Woodlawn Primary School; and Gareth Hamilton, principal of Sunnylands Primary School. INCT 13-003-PSB
Receiving Certificates of Achievement as part of the Northlands Project are Sunnylands Primary School pupils Dylan Langridge, Mark Armstrong and Bailey Irvine, along with Ellie-Rose McDowell from Woodlawn Primary School. Inluded are (from left) Sam Martin from DSD; Claire Crawford, project worker; Mayor of Carrickfergus, Alderman Billy Ashe; Ian Mullen, principal of Woodlawn Primary School; and Gareth Hamilton, principal of Sunnylands Primary School. INCT 13-003-PSB

The young participants were tasked with illustrating what life in their community means to them, with the winners attending a special reception at Carrick Town Hall last week.

The competition was part of a joint initiative between the local authority’s newly established Northlands Project and two primary schools, Woodlawn and Sunnylands.

The children were asked to design a picture which they felt encapsulated the chosen theme, with the winning picture to feature as the new logo for the Community Newsletter.

Entrants were also asked to recommend a new title for all future editions of the newsletter.

Mark Armstrong, a primary five pupil at Sunnylands, was awarded first place for his suggestion ‘Sunny-Wood’, while classmate Dylan Langridge was chosen for his slogan ‘Make Our Community Shine’, which will feature as a sub heading in the newsletter.

Fellow Sunnylands pupil Bailey Irvine was awarded second place in the competition, with Woodlawn pupil Ellie Rose McDowell receiving third prize.

Mayor of Carrick Alderman Billy Ashe welcomed the children and their principals to the Mayor’s Parlour on Friday, where the winners were presented with certificates and swimming vouchers.

Ald Ashe said: “We received a total of 136 entries for this competition, which is extremely positive.

“The standard from both schools was very high and it was evident that the children had put a lot of hard work and effort into this exercise.

“I would like to thank the primary schools for their help with this project and congratulate the competition winners and all the children who took part.”

Funded by the Department for Social Development, the Northlands Project aims to help develop community initiatives in the Northland ward of Carrickfergus, said project worker Claire Crawford.

“We have a range of projects and initiatives coming up, including a fun day in May,” added Claire.

The project was formed following a series of public meetings in January week at which people in Woodburn and Sunnylands were invited to give their views on issues affecting their area.

The consultation was part of a wider programme of engagement which Carrickfergus Borough Council has undertaken in the area after securing £120,000 funding from the DSD.