Ardglass group praised for lifeline service in village

Ardglass group praised for lifeline service in village

19 February 2014

ARDGLASS Street Safe could become the model for community safety groups throughout the district.

The suggestion was made at a recent meeting of the Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) in Newcastle last Tuesday as volunteers from the group gave an overview of their work.

Around 20 young people between the ages of 14 and 21 have become involved in Ardglass Street Safe since it was formed in November last year. Their aim is to provide a 24 hour lifeline for the vulnerable in Ardglass, ensuring the elderly especially are safe and comfortable in their homes.

Addressing the meeting, founding member Gerard Forward said they wanted to “enhance the Ardglass community as a safe, comfortable and a positive place to live, where people are proud of their community and culture is promoted”.

“We want to give young people a role and direction and help them stay away from alcohol, drugs and anti-social behaviour,” he said.

He added that a subsection of ‘Handy People’ within their group provided practical support to elderly people in their homes.

Volunteer Rebecca Smyth said they were also involved with the Ardglass Friends Group and campaigning for the Downe Hospital.

Explaining how she enjoyed making friends with older people in the community through Street Safe, she said: “I did not know there were these people, having probably more craic than half my friends, just waiting to be uncovered.”

Volunteer William Mulhall said they distributed sandbags during the recent floods, helped put up Christmas decorations and tried to ensure no-one spent Christmas dinner alone.

“People see there is a real sense of community spirit coming back in Ardglass,” he said. “We want to make Ardglass great.”

The Housing Executive, PSNI, and County Down Rural Community Network gave their backing to the group’s work at the meeting and said they would be willing to work with any community group hoping to set up a similar project.

PSCP chairman, councillor Willie Clarke, said: “I would be hoping to see something similar in Newcastle.”