Cities Section: Category Five – Community Resilience Initiative
Winner: Old Warren Community Association, Lisburn City
Summary:
Old Warren Community Association was formed in 1986 to provide a better, safer environment for the residents of Old Warren estate in Lisburn, which is an area of high deprivation. It is based within a Protestant, Loyalist, Unionist community (PUL). The group also works to elevate educational levels and to ensure that the housing stock meets the present and future needs of residents. They offer their community house as a ‘drop in’ for advice from local agencies including Council, Housing Executive, PSNI and the Health Trust. The community association delivers training to develop local skills and to enable sustainability of services, focusing on volunteers and committee members. The group consists solely of volunteers and works in partnership with numerous community/voluntary and statutory bodies to pool resources and better meet the needs of local people. During the recent pandemic the group worked alongside other stakeholders to deliver food parcels, hot meals, warm packs, other essential items and prescriptions to people in need.
Group Contact: Victoria Jackson
Citation:
This group has met particular and unique challenges in an area of high deprivation but have demonstrably improved the quality of life, health and well-being of all in a way that has been passionate, resourceful and, above all, adaptable.
