Prizes for community heroes

Deborah Neill presenting the East Rural Community Cluster Award to Clough Community-Association. INBT 48- COMMUNITY CLUSTER 1.

With over 120 nominations made, 48 community groups and individuals shortlisted and 12 awards, the support and engagement for the event was phenomenal.

Ballymena is divided into four clusters, 2 urban and 2 rural, created by Ballymena Borough Council in 2011 with the aim of building a community that works together.

Other winners included Dunclug Youth Forum for Youth Champion, Good Morning Ballymena for Older Person Champion and Cullybackey Development Association for the Green Award.

Patricia Johnston of Carrick Community Forum Presenting the Ballymena South Community Cluster group of the year award to Ballee & Harryville Community Enterprises. INBT 48- COMMUNITY CLUSTER 2.

Individual awards were also presented to Denver McMeekin from Harryville Men Shed for Man of the Year, Karen Shannon from Ballykeel Together Development Association for Woman of the Year and Marc Dunseath was also presented with the educational achievement award.

The two top awards of the night went to Ballee & Harryville Community Enterprises for Overall Group Award and to Kieran Adams from Portglenone Enterprise Group for Lifetime Achievement.

The awards were organised by the Cluster Development workers with continued support from Mid and East Antrim Council, the Mayor spoke on the evening as well as presented the lifetime achievement award.

The Deputy Mayor was also in attendance and presented one of the group awards.

The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council presenting Kieran Adams from Portglenone Enterprise Group the Lifetime Achievement Award Bann Maine West Community Cluster. INBT 48- COMMUNITY CLUSTER 3.

The evening was sponsored by Ballymena Business Centre and supported by various community groups such as Harryville Men Shed who crafted the unique award statues and an NRC Community class in Ballee who made the flower arrangements.