Recognition for Saintfield group

Recognition for Saintfield group

29 November 2023

SAINTFIELD Community Association’s operations team recently reached the finals of a prestigious award competition which recognised its contributions to the town.

The team was shortlisted in the Social Enterprise NI awards, but lost out to Carrick Greengrocers in the final. 

One of the team members, David McMinn, played a key role in getting the community centre up and running after it was signed off by Newry, Mourne and Down Council. 

Before the centre could be put into use numerous snags with the heating, ventilating and electrical systems came to light, and were taken on by David who has a background in engineering and project management in Howden Sirocco.

Members of the Saintfield team worked closely with local authority staff and contractors who supplied the various services in the community centre.

Through David’s careful analysis of the problems and diplomatic liaison with all concerned, they managed to identify the causes of all the problems and have them corrected. 

In addition, funding has been sourced to add battery packs to the photo-voltaic cells on the community centre roof, helping to lower running costs.

David has also been a key member of the project team negotiating with the local authority to convert the remaining warehouse on the community centre site into additional community space. 

The team’s many hours of input are all voluntary and unpaid, as are all the other hours contributed by the other members of the Community Association and its management board.

It has also been confirmed that Kristine Doyle has been appointed as the community centre’s new  coordinator, responsible for its day-to-day management.

Kristine is supported by Centre attendants Peter Martin and Luke Gibb, who cover most of the weekend demands, with other volunteers supporting as required. Further additions to the staff are to be announced in the coming weeks. 

The use of the community centre continues to grow year on year with a forecast 65% increase in booked hours between 2022 and 2023. 

Activities are held every day and evening across the facility, with a significant usage at weekends with birthday parties and other social activities. 

Meanwhile, Saintfield High School continue to use the 3G pitch for PE, with the community centre also accommodating pupils at lunchtime.

There are now seven weekly spin bike classes at various times from early morning to evenings to suit individual requirements, while agreement to extend the community centre with an additional 8,000 sq ft of floor space through a 25-year lease is nearing completion with Newry Mourne and Down Council.