Drive for local volunteers

Drive for local volunteers

8 July 2015

A DOWNPATRICK man hoping to start up a new ‘community council’ is holding a public meeting later this month to gauge local interest.

Francis Morgan wants to bring together volunteers who can offer a small amount of their time to work with either older or younger people in the community, or anyone else needing a helping hand.

He says the ‘Downpatrick Community Council’ would have no ties to any political party or church and would not operate as charity.

“This is about volunteers giving up a bit of their time to make the world a better place,” said Francis. “There are severe cuts coming here and they are going to have an impact.

“It could be about someone going to make an older person living on their own a cup of tea.

“We would also like to get young people involved in activities like gardening, preparing furniture and other community based work.”

The former care worker, who describes himself as a human rights campaigner with some success over the past 20 years, said there would also be guest speakers at the meeting.

Francis said it would be a light-hearted meeting with traditional music and refreshments served.

The public meeting is to be held in Down Arts Centre on July 21 from 7pm to 9pm.

If successful, Mr Morgan would like to see the initiative in other local towns.