What’s Happening? South-West Belfast South-West Belfast Neighbourhood Partnership Making Things Happen Within the South-West Belfast Community. Issue 5. November 2015. Queen Honours Local Residents long-time community activist and campaigner, Billy is currently involved with 12 community groups including Blackstaff Community Development Group. Leonard Totten received the BEM for services to Higher Education in Northern Ireland. A resident of Colchester Park, Leonard is employed as a Mail Room Porter at Queen’s University, Belfast. Local BEM Medal Recipients Following Investiture at Hillsborough Castle The three were also invited to a Buckingham Palace garden party THREE Donegall Road area the Village, received the BEM in in May which Margaret and Billy residents have been honoured by the recognition of her services to the were able to attend. Queen in her 2015 New Year’s community in Belfast. She has Unfortunately, due to a family Honours List. worked in various community bereavement, Leonard had to organisations since 1985 and Margaret Couchman, Billy Dickson postpone his visit until next year. played a major part in the and Leonard Totten were each campaign to secure the Margaret took advantage of the awarded the British Empire Medal regeneration of the area for the occasion to pass on a signed copy (BEM) and received their awards local community. of the children’s book she from the Lord Lieutenant of the penned, Lenny the Leprechaun, County Borough of Belfast at their Tates Avenue resident, Billy for Prince George and Princess investiture at Hillsborough Castle on Dickson, was honoured with a th Charlotte, children of William 30 April 2015. BEM for his services to the and Kate. community in Northern Ireland. A Margaret, from Tavanagh Street in ‘Coder Dojo’ Kicks Off RISE of the Blackstaff INFORMATION technology join up as support is provided. The THIS year saw the launch of a project, ‘Coder Dojo’, has kicked off emphasis is very much on fun. booklet by local community again in South Belfast. It offers historian Billy Dickson. ‘The young people the chance to Farset Lab launched this, its latest RISE of the Blackstaff’, which South Belfast-based ‘Coder Dojo’ experiment and play with new tells the history of the local nd technologies. They learn about programme, on 2 October 2015 in Blackstaff River, is available from electronics, problem solving, games Weavers’ Court in Sandy Row. the Today’s Local Shop in Tates and web design. Avenue, priced £3.00. Proceeds For more information, email from sales go to support local [email protected] or go to Young people do not have to be community work. good at Information Technology to http://bit.ly/fsldojo. Gaffiken Street Apartment Plans Give A Bird A Home PROPOSALS for the development A CALL is going out to of fifty-one apartments in Gaffiken community organisations, Street off the Donegall Road were schools, churches and individual submitted to the Planning Service households across South Belfast in June 2015. to install a bird box and give a bird a home. The site currently accommodates a motor accessory shop, tyre depot, About 150 specially-designed vehicle repair garage as well as boxes are being made by young Site for Proposed Apartments Sandy Row Boxing Club. people involved in the TREE An Outline Planning application training programme. The proposed fifty-one apartments was submitted by AMD would be accommodated within The boxes will be provided, free Architectural Design on behalf of two main blocks, one fronting onto of charge, to organisations and Paul Molyneaux. A Planning individual households across the Donegall Road and the other decision is awaited. facing into Gaffikin Street. The South Belfast in support of the Royal Society for the Protection blocks would vary in height from of Birds (RSPB) ‘Giving Nature a three to six storeys and one would Monarch Laundry Site Home’ campaign. have a south facing, landscaped AN Outline Planning application roof terrace. Fifty boxes were built for swifts was received by the Planning and will be installed by local Service in June 2015 for the community organisations, schools New Homework Club development of apartments on the and churches. The rest will house former Monarch Laundry site. EDUCATION and qualifications sparrows, robins and blue tits and will be located in the gardens of are very important when it comes It was submitted by agents, AMD residents and in open spaces. to finding a job or securing better Architectural Design of paid work. Portadown, on behalf of MKB57 Even birds deserve a nice place to Ltd of 14 Great Victoria Street. Primary and secondary school live so children from Donegall Road Primary School will be children in South West Belfast can The plans provide for a involved in decorating the boxes. improve their chances of getting development with sixty, two- They will be able to take their more and better qualifications by bedroom apartments rising to a completed handy work home. signing up for a new, local maximum of 4.5 storeys. Homework Support Club. They also propose the retention of For more information, contact The Club will be based in the the existing chimney and the Sarah Bowden at GVRT on 028 90333527. Southcity Community Resource possible provision of a single, and Development Centre at 2 gated access route from Monarch Maldon Street and will be opening Street. A planning decision is for members on 1st December 2015. awaited. The primary school group will Greater Village Regeneration meet on Thursdays between Trust and Action on Community 3.00PM and 4.30PM and receive Transformation (ACT) met with homework support from the tutor. the developer on 27th August 2015 to raise local issues. TREE Trainee Prepares Bird Box Secondary school members will attend between 3.30PM and Partnership Aiming For Openness and Accountability 5.00PM on Thursdays when the focus will be on study support SOUTH West Belfast provides lots of information, across a range of subjects, Neighbourhood Partnership including details of the SW Belfast including English and Maths. (SWBNP) is keen to ensure that it Neighbourhood Action Plan 2015- is open about and accountable for 2017 and the work and Why not help your child lay the its work within the local performance of local Action Plan foundations for a better future by community. To help it achieve this, delivery organisations. It also has a encouraging them to join the Club. it has a website with the address broad range of information about For more information, contact Jim www.swbelfastnp.org. This SWBNP itself. Potts on 028 90504850. Positive Ageing In South West Belfast OCTOBER 2015 was ‘Positive contact either Adrienne on Girls’ and ‘Darby Club’ senior citizens’ groups have been Ageing Month’ and Belfast held a 07970040402 or Nicola on welcoming new members. series of events to celebrate the 07717777163. contribution older people make to The groups, which are hosted by their communities. Well Women’s Group Windsor Women’s Centre, give The Well Women’s Group is a members the chance to make new It is, therefore, a good time to partnership between Greater Village friends, try out new interests, go on highlight activities going on in South shopping trips or simply chat. Regeneration Trust and Senior West Belfast involving older people. Moments. Senior Moments Based in Richview Regeneration Based in its Drop-In Centre at the Centre, the Well Women’s Group is Southcity Community Resource and made up of fifteen local people aged Development Centre, in Maldon fifty and over. It meets weekly when Street, Senior Moments is a group for members take part in activities such men and women aged sixty and over. as sewing, card making and box frame creation. Much of the craft The Group offers a five days-a-week work produce is sold by ‘Made With Irene Moore and Elsie Brown programme of activities. These Love’, a social economy business include; swimming, a Seniors’ Gym, managed by the Group. The women Group leader of the Golden Girls is classes, shopping trips, a Well also enjoy trips out, health Irene Moore while for the Darby Women’s Group and an Active Club. awareness sessions and working in Club it is Elsie Brown. Both There is also a holiday club, tea the Group’s allotment plot at women have been community dances, group work, a book of Blythefield. Park. volunteers for many years and have worked to ensure that senior memories project, reminiscence and There are currently no group places citizens play an active part in the an allotment gardening project. available. For more information life of the community. Senior Moments has a minibus which about the Group, contact Angela is available to seniors in the wider The two groups meet at 10.30AM Johnston on 028 90333527 or community. on Tuesdays in Windsor Women’s Adrienne Magill on 07970040402. Centre at 136-144 Broadway. For All local seniors are welcome to take more information, call the Centre Golden Girls And Darby Club part in all of the group’s on 02890235451 or drop in on a programmes. For more information, For twenty five years, the ‘Golden Tuesday morning. Thinking of Working For Yourself? A Beautiful South MANY people think about working website in place by Christmas. ENVIROMENTAL improvement for themselves but are not quite Currently, you can find it at in the Village and Mid-Donegal sure about the first step. facebook.com/madewithlovebelfast Road neighbourhoods and and twitter @madewithlovebel. Blythefield Park is the aim of the Angela Johnston, Economic and new ‘A Beautiful South’ initiative. Community Development Officer Angela has also been supporting with Greater Village Regeneration local woman Emma Whitley Greater Village Regeneration Trust Trust, can provide you with start-up whose balloon art and event (GVRT) secured money from the and business development support.