Communities thrive when they come together to take ownership of the spaces and resources that matter most. Thanks to the £3.6 million investment from the Community Ownership Fund, ten community groups across Northern Ireland are doing just that – creating opportunities, preserving local landmarks, and transforming lives.
This milestone, supported by the Community Ownership Fund, showcases the power of collaboration and grassroots efforts. The successful groups include:
- Accidental Theatre: A creative space for artistic innovation.
- Canal Boxing Academy: Promoting health and community through sport.
- Friends of Loughmacrory: Protecting a cherished natural asset for generations to come.
- Market Development Association: Enhancing local economic opportunities.
- Mourne Mountain Rescue Team: Ensuring safety in one of Northern Ireland’s most beautiful landscapes.
- Rathfriland ABC Community Hub: Building connections through a shared community space.
- R-Space Gallery at the Linen Rooms: Supporting arts and cultural development.
- Silverbridge Harps GAA Club Community Resource Centre: Fostering growth through community resources.
- SOLAS Special Needs Charity: Enhancing lives with tailored support and services.
- Upper Springfield Development Trust Ltd: Driving social and economic transformation.
Investing in Local Potential
Each of these groups represents the heart and resilience of their communities. Through this investment, they are empowered to preserve local assets and build sustainable futures. Whether it’s through revitalising historic landmarks or creating dynamic social hubs, their efforts will leave a lasting legacy.
DTNI is also delighted to highlight that Northern Ireland has excelled in securing support from the Community Ownership Fund. A total of 41 groups across the region have received £11.6 million in funding since the inception of the initiative. This investment has been significantly bolstered by the community sector itself, which has raised over £2 million in match funding through fundraising, borrowing, and other funding sources.
Acknowledging Key Support
Adding to this, the groups themselves have shared their appreciation for the support provided:
Mourne Mountain Rescue Team noted, “DTNI’s advice was extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of the application process. Support provided at all stages really assisted us to complete our application. It was extremely helpful to know someone was on hand at all times to help us through the process.”
Accidental Theatre shared, “DTNI was very helpful at all stages of the application and instrumental in laying out the detail of our existing Business Plan for the application.”
The invaluable pre application support by Development Trusts Northern Ireland and its team of professional associates played a pivotal role in the success of these projects. The expertise and guidance provided was instrumental in helping these community groups achieve their vision. Margaret Craig, Senior Programme Manager at DTNI and manager of the COF project, shared her thoughts on the initiative:
“We are immensely proud to have supported these outstanding groups on their journey to ownership and transformation,” said Margaret Craig. “The Community Ownership Fund is about much more than just funding – it’s about empowering communities to create sustainable futures. DTNI is honoured to be part of that journey.”
Charlie Fisher, Chief Executive of DTNI, added:
“This milestone underscores the critical role of collaboration in achieving meaningful change. At DTNI, we believe in the power of local communities to take control of their destinies, and the success of these groups is a testament to that vision.”
Highlighting Transformative Projects
Among the inspiring projects is Canal Boxing Academy, which is using sport as a medium to bring people together and promote health and wellbeing. Similarly, Mourne Mountain Rescue Team is ensuring visitors to Northern Ireland’s iconic landscapes stay safe and protected. These initiatives not only build pride but also create lasting impacts on the community’s social and economic fabric.
A Vision for the Future
Unfortunately, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has confirmed that the Community Ownership Fund is now closed. While the total achievement of £11.6 million allocated to Northern Ireland groups is celebrated, the high demand for such funding underscores the ongoing needs of community organisations. Many groups could still benefit greatly from a continuation of this type of support.
DTNI has been actively advocating for the establishment of a dedicated Northern Ireland Community Ownership Fund. Meetings with key government departments – Communities, Finance, and Economy – have been encouraging, and DTNI remains hopeful that a ringfenced capital investment fund will be created in the future to sustain and build upon these successes.
Let’s celebrate the power of community! Together, we can inspire more communities to take ownership of their futures and build thriving local spaces.