Contents Cover Photo: Pride of Craigavon: Mayor Colin McCusker presents the Community Excellence Large Group Award to Andrea Heads & John McGuinness of ABC Community Network. Page 3. Editorial 3. Learning & Development 4. Drumellan’s Housing Hero ABC Community Network 22 Church Street 5. 25 Years of Cane & Able Portadown County Armagh 6. Scotch Street Oil Club BT62 3LQ 7. Memories of George Thompson 028 3839 2777 [email protected] 8. Pride of Craigavon 2015 www.abccommunitynetwork.com 11. ABC Members Events facebook.com/ABCCommNetwork twitter.com/ABCCommNetwork 12. Housing Support for Older People Spring 2015 14. Promoting Wellbeing Training 15. Other News Network News Spring 15 3 Editorial Here at ABC Community Network we’re feeling experience in completing online applications. pretty pleased with ourselves! On a starry night We hope you find the information contained in this in March - and up against fierce competition! - we issue helpful. In particular, please have a look at the were presented with Craigavon Borough Council’s back cover – Advice NI offers a free, confidential debt Community Excellence Award for Large Groups. service here at ABC offices, helping those who are Please see pages 8-10 for details of all the winners in debt. However, if you or someone you know is in and runners-up and a report on the flavour of the danger of getting into debt, Advice NI can help too. night. Of course, Network News wouldn’t be Network News Also in this issue is a fantastic tribute to Bernie Burns without all the contributions from our members, so of Drumellan Community Association who picked up thanks to all of you who sent us articles and photos the Housing Hero award from the Chartered Institute for this issue. We’re always amazed at the range of of Housing at a glittering ceremony in Belfast. We’re activities our member groups offer, and it’s particularly so lucky to have someone like Bernie working in the good to hear from newly formed groups. community sector and send her our warmest wishes on her success. In the next issue, there will be some exciting news about the launch of our Community Radio …… we Congratulations to all of our members who have can’t wait! successfully applied for funding during recent months. We know how challenging the process can be so Marian and Andrea, Guest Editors remember that we’re here to assist you in any way we (John McGuinness is away) can, particularly those groups who have no or little Learning & Development Information Technology seems to have been high exercises to suit each person’s abilities. on the training agenda for the past few weeks. Once again, we were able to hold a Child Protection course Bannside Community Group has continued with here at ABC offices during March and April – a huge thank its IT for Beginners on Thursday mornings, surfing you to Alexandra Irwin at Community Sector Training for all the ‘Net for information from insurance prices, to her hard work to organise these very popular courses and how much it costs to book a cottage in Donegal, many congratulations to all those who successfully passed with flying colours! to finding school photos from the 1960s. It’s a very informal class so if you’d like to have a try, Inspiring Impact – the please contact Ann Dunbar at Bannside on programme that helps 38339916. your group plan to help more people – is still Two IPAD taster classes took place at Maghery’s Diamond running and new groups Senior Citizen’s Club earlier this month, with nearly 20 are always welcome. Your group will be guided people swiping and tapping away on IPAD screens. There through a questionnaire that can be used for planning was much laughter as the group took photos of each other while others were fascinated by being able to “virtually” future activities to ensure you have the greatest walk along streets in Paris or New York. The whole group impact, and given access to lots of evaluation tools to did very well indeed, and it’s hoped to have further sessions help measure success. in the autumn. Please contact Andrea to chat about what’s Three Yoga taster sessions also went down very well in involved. March as we gently stretched and breathed our way to inner calm with our lovely tutor, Michelle, who guided us through 4 Network News Spring 15 Housing Hero Bernie wins prestigious award for her dedication to Drumellan Bernie Burns from Drumellan Community to mass dereliction but Bernie and her committee gradually gained the respect from statutory bodies who in partnership Association recently received the accolade developed an Estate Based Strategy. Burnt out homes “Housing Hero” at the Chartered Institute were demolished (approx. 160) , improvement schemes of Housing’s Annual Housing Awards. introduced , estate renamed and so commenced the turnaround. Today Drumellan is a lovely stable estate with The event, now in its sixth year, was sponsored by the few turnovers and healthy waiting list. Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) aiming to What the Estate Based Strategy highlighted was the need showcase excellence and innovation and recognise the not only to improve the physical environment but equally housing professionals and organisations really making a important the need to provide much needed services for the difference in their communities. community...more than just bricks and mortar! Bernie Burns has been the lifeblood of the community in Today with Bernie at the helm Drumellan Community Drumellan (formerly Edenbeg) and despite many setbacks Association has leased Housing Executive properties to she has worked tirelessly to improve the living conditions run projects. A Children and Young Peoples Centre with a for all residents. She has dedicated a major part of her life Breakfast Club & Afterschools Club and the Family Learning to being the respected voice of her community, and despite Complex which provides an opportunity for accredited being one of the most humble people you could meet, she and recreational classes in a friendly and welcoming has a fierce determination and a highly charged sense of environment. social justice. Bernie has embraced other cultures with open arms Bernie became a stalwart member of the community group and was instrumental in helping the Polish Community in the 1970’s, and even when things were extremely difficult, establish a vibrant school which operates every Saturday Bernie’s determination to improve the living conditions from the Family Learning Centre. In addition links have and environment never waned. Edenbeg was subjected to also been forged with the Muslim, Chinese and Travelling a prolonged period of serious antisocial behaviour that led Communities. Network News Spring 15 5 25 Years Celebration for Cane & Able! The Cane and Able Club recently celebrated THE CANE AND ABLE CLUB their 25th Anniversary at a special lunch We’re here today for a celebration, Of 25 Years since this club’s formation, with the Mayor at the Civic Centre. Sports for VIPs is this clubs aim, With fun and friendship through many a game. It was well attended by past and present members including representatives of the McCann Trust, Deane Houston, Chief Over the years we’ve had use of the gym, Executive of the Blind Centre and representatives from the Played boccia and beetle, perhaps had a swim, RNIB. Tried archery, aerobics, ten pin bowls, New age curling, putting and indoor bowls. The Cane and Able club is a group of visually impaired In the leisure room is the long green mat, people who meet every Tuesday at Cascades Leisure centre Coloured bowls and the “jack” we’re aming at, in Portadown. With the assistance of their dedicated We’re put into teams, one yellow, one red, volunteers they play indoor bowls, boccia, new age curling, To win a trophy is then in each head. putting, ten pin bowling, archery, board games and table The first on the mat just misses the “jack”, quizzes. Another one bowls. Yes! He’s got the knack, Deane Houston spoke about the formation of the club 25 A third one bowls without any sight, years ago to address the need for a social outlet for the “Looks good, looks good, augh its off on the right.” visually impaired, and pointed out that the need still exists When doing archery to Brownlow we go, today. John Fogarty one of the founder members spoke With one arm out straight, firm grip on the bow, about his sight loss, subsequently regaining his vision and String back to the nose till told to shoot, his work as rehabilitation officer at Cherrytrees, outlining the Then wait to hear where the arrow’s been put. positive change in attitude towards the visually impaired. So it continues while we all try, Danny McSherry and Russell Lucas from the RNIB, both With careful aim to get a “Bull’s Eye”, “Add up the numbers - what score have you got?” stressed the importance of a club like Cane and Able offering Brings back memories of the “Golden Shot.” support and friendship to those who have lost their sight. While playing Putting, we’re off to Silverwood, Music was provided by students from Portadown College, Perhaps you’re wondering how a blind person could? with James Cunningham on Piano, Sarah McAlpine on Harp, Well the sighted guide “putts” first you see, Joe McGeown on guitar, Samuel Kane and Amy Boyce on Then moves to the hole and shouts “Aim for me.” violin and Myfamwy Carville as compere. If ten pin bowls be the theme for the day, If you wish to join the club as a visually impaired member Over to Centrepoint we make our way.