Initiative to strengthen town’s community spirit

Initiative to strengthen town’s community spirit

19 September 2018

DETAILS have been unveiled of a new initiative aimed at encouraging people who live in the Saintfield area to participate in local events and programmes.

The man behind the initiative is Martyn Todd, chairman of the Saintfield Development Association, who hopes it will strengthen the town’s community spirit.

The Development Association and Saintfield Heritage Society have secured funding from the Housing Executive’s community cohesion fund to organise a number of events in a new programme called Discover Saintfield Community.

The series of events will take place between now and next February with community representatives hoping they will be successful.

Mr Todd said the key objectives of the new programme are to encourage more people to know and value the unique parts of Saintfield’s history, learn more about the activities of over 50 community groups in and around the town and find ways for them to become more involved in community activities.

The launch of the new initiative coincides with what Mr Todd describes as a “really exciting time” for Saintfield including the start of work on a new community centre and the completion of a new artificial grass surface for a variety of sports at The Demesne.

The sports pitch will be used by the men and women of Saintfield Hockey Club and local running club Saintfield Striders. 

Close to the Demesne, work is underway to provide a new grass soccer pitch at Saintfield United’s ground, with Mr Todd explaining floral displays around the village have never looked better thanks to the efforts of the Development Association’s Green Committee.

“Saintfield Show has a new site, closer to Saintfield at Boardmills, which was greatly enjoyed by those who attended and Saintfield’s infrastructure continues to improve and provide huge opportunities for community activities,” he said.

Mr Todd said his personal goal as Development Association chairman is to encourage more people who live in the Saintfield area to find ways to participate in local community events and programmes, strengthening the town’s community spirit.

He continued: “When I was growing up, the population of Saintfield was less than 1,000 people, the great majority of whom had long- term family links in the area. The population is now close to 4,000 and over 12,000 people reside within a four mile radius of the town.

“Much of this increase is due to people moving into the area but who still have links to families, churches, work places and schools outside Saintfield. 

“These links are important and should be maintained. However, I feel that Saintfield would be a better place for the future if we could strengthen links within the Saintfield community.”

Confirming money has been secured to stage a series of events as part of the Discover Saintfield Community initiative, Mr Todd revealed they include a tour of the town’s historical sites and an open day for local people at the new Belfast Road community centre.

The series of talks scheduled for the new year feature Alister McReynolds who will speak on Early Saintfield, while noted historian Phillip Orr’s address will be on Saintfield-born philosopher Francis Hutcheson. 

The other speaker will be Queen’s University academic Eamon Phoenix who will focus on the 1798 Rebellion and the Battle of Saintfield.

Full details of all of the forthcoming events are available at discoversaintfield.com.