Redburn Loughview Community Forum
Annual Report
2022 / 2023
The Redburn Loughview Community Forum (RLCF) was set up in Holywood, Co, down by concerned local older resident volunteers who looked to devise solutions to problems due to socio-economic disadvantage prevalent in their area. The area includes predominantly of social housing with low-income families with a distinct lack of facilities and services. Since its start over 20 years ago, RLCF has fought to develop the capacity, skills and potential of its community and meet identified needs. The RLCF is a voluntary organisation, for local groups consisting of Men, Women, Young people, and Children, in the Redburn Loughview area including other voluntary and Statutory agencies.
Our Ethos
The organisation uses its constitution in all its work; however, it adopts a community development approach to all its work and has the following key values Equality and Anti-discrimination, Social Justice, Collective Action, Community Empowerment. (In line with RLCF constitution)
“Community development is work with people in neighbourhoods and communities to increase levels of self-help, support, and collective action. It aims to give people greater control over their individual situations and their communities”. (Thomas.N, 1980)
Redburn Loughview Community Forum’s ethos is to build the ability of the most vulnerable members of the Redburn / Loughview Social housing area including the wider environs to become empowered to meet their own needs. To Provide and support a Forum where member groups and statutory and community organisations can join for mutual support, to exchange views and share common issues and information. We wish to create a collective voice and work in partnership with statutory agencies and authorities.
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Access to
Resource centre with facilities and skills to support groups and residents. All completed in line with Government legislations and policies.
Governance
- Bimonthly Meetings attended by volunteers.
Interagency meeting four times a year with all statutory Bodies such as Policing Board for Northern Ireland (PSNI), Housing Executive, Supporting Communities NI, Policing Community Safety (PCSP) Partnership, Clanmil Housing, Habinteg, Ards and North Down Borough Council Officers, Community Development, Good Relations, PSCP Officers, Councillors, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Department of Regional Development (DRD) Department for Infrastructure (DFI)
Housing Association meetings with Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Debt Advice and support for residents
Policing Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) weekly/ Monthly
Local Councillors / MLA’S
Work with Local schools
Community Activities / Forum
Road Safety Traffic Issues
We have listed an overview of the work and volunteering we do from consultations and meetings to short- and long-term projects, including training and development of our volunteers. Below are resident issues reported to the agencies at meetings and estate walkabouts 2022 /2023.
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Long Term Project
Helping residents and wider community with Traffic Safety issues that impact all the community. Residents blocked in their homes, emergency services reduced or no access, parents and vulnerable residents walking on roads as paths blocked. Through the interagency work and continuous Lobbying with all the statutory agencies concerned.
Working in Partnership- Community Planning
Policing Service Northern Ireland
Policing Community Safety Partnership
Ards and North Down Road Safety Partnership
Local MLA Local School
Local Councillors
Local School
Residents
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Food Pantry @ Redburn Loughview
We offer food in the form of a food Pantry we support weekly/ monthly / yearly for perishable and non-perishable food, delivered by volunteers, and increased from 2022-2023. Including support from local business such as Henderson’s Spar / Henderson’s Spar Torgrange / Churches, and Food Storehouse. We also offer Hygiene products when available.
Shared Community Garden
We offer access to a shared community garden that residents can take part in from Meeting- Networking / training/ planting and growing vegetables and plants and all residents have access to free apples/ cooking apples/ pears and herbs
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Projects throughout the Year
Celebrations, the Queen’s birthday May Day, Christmas switch on, for all ages starting at 6 months old to 100 years old, living in the Redburn Loughview area, working with the community and statutory bodies and volunteers ensuring safe, enjoyable events.
Supporting Events May Day / Christmas Events
Actively Challenging decisions about funding with groups
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– Family activities Bonding
“A parent is their child's first teacher and should remain their best teacher throughout life” going to activities together.
We work on young people’s projects – Working with the young people at key times, weekends and nights putting in place divisionary programmes with the CFNI, PSNI, PCSP, – i.e., Archery, W5, Cinema, let’s go Hydro, Bowling activities, teambuilding.
Sharing Skills for the younger participants is important in the Community, like attending educational sessions and helping with the community garden. Passing on life skills.
Training supplied
Onus Safe place training – all levels (digital)
Level 2 Health and Safety at work
Housing Training
Interagency Training
Computer skills
Gardening
Safe awareness Training
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Safe Place for community
We continue – Zero Tolerance to Domestic Violence
Redburn Loughview membership stays high and continues to grow, the forum looks forward to delivering further projects and work with its volunteers, residents, and community in the next coming year.
– Bin the Drugs Rapid Box
Remove unused unwanted prescription drugs from the community.
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