What Happened at the Community Development Committee Meeting?
Key Takeaways from the November 25 Council Meeting
The Community Development Committee met at Mossley Mill on Monday 10 November 2025, and while the official agenda ran to many pages, here’s a plain-English breakdown of what locals will actually care about.
From community funding and charity support to new grant schemes and events coming up soon, here are the main talking points and decisions from the meeting.
💷 Continued Funding for Local Families and Young People
Councillors approved the Quarter 2 performance report for Barnardo’s THRiVE Project, which supports children and young people in the Macedon and Threemilewater areas.
Why it matters:
The project is fully meeting its targets
Council funding of £28,000 for 2025/26 is being used effectively
Focus remains on giving children the best start in life
In short: the project is working, and support is staying in place.
👵 Seniors’ Groups Are Hitting Their Targets — and May Expand
The Antrim and Newtownabbey Seniors Forum received a positive update, with all targets met for the first half of the year.
Key points for locals aged 50+:
The Forum continues to receive £15,000 from Council, plus matched funding from health and housing bodies
Programmes supporting social connection, education, and wellbeing are on track
Council officers will now reach out to seniors in Antrim, Crumlin and Randalstown to explore wider engagement
This could mean more activities and support closer to home.
🏘️ New Community Grants Coming in 2026 — Here’s What to Know
A major item was the update on the Elevate Community Renewal & Resilience Fund, which opens in December 2025 for projects running in 2026–2027.
What community groups should know:
Grants between £5,000 and £25,000
Open to groups working in identified areas of deprivation
Applications open 1 December 2025
An information session will be held in early December
This replaces the old “Areas at Risk” approach and is designed to be fairer and more competitive.
👉 If you’re involved in a local group, this is one funding call to keep firmly on your radar.
🥋 Charity Event Approved at Stiles Community Centre
Councillors approved a request from Heat Martial Arts and Fitness Club to apply for an alcohol licence for a charity fundraising event at Stiles Community Centre in March 2026.
Why locals might care:
Event raises money for R House and ASD Teens
Family-friendly event with licensed security and medics
No cost to the Council
This was viewed as a positive use of a community facility for local causes.
🛡️ Domestic & Sexual Abuse Toolkit Reaches Thousands
One of the most impactful updates was on the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Community Toolkit, launched earlier this year.
The numbers speak for themselves:
Accessed 23,000+ times
Reached 400,000 people through awareness campaigns
Distributed across community centres, libraries, NHS facilities, and schools
The toolkit helps people recognise abuse, respond safely, and refer to support services. Councillors praised the work and asked for it to be rolled out even further, including to schools and housing officers.
🎭 Arts, Culture & Events Moving Ahead
The Borough Arts and Cultural Advisory Panel minutes were approved, along with theatre programmes running until May 2026.
This keeps local arts funding, events, and cultural programming moving forward with input from both councillors and people working in the arts locally.
🛥️ WWII Heritage Project Gets a Boost
A new partnership was approved between Council and a local veterans group to help restore and present the historic Joyce Torpedo Boat at Antrim Loughshore.
What’s planned:
Hands-on restoration support
Better interpretation and signage
Educational and commemorative events
It’s another step toward preserving local history in a meaningful, community-led way.
👨 International Men’s Day Event Confirmed
Council confirmed details for International Men’s Day (19 November 2025), including:
A live podcast event at Mossley Mill
Focus on positive male role models
Guests from sport and community life
Councillors also agreed to explore making this an annual event.
🦉 Support for a Much-Loved Local Attraction
World of Owls in Randalstown received approval for a one-off Council payment of £2,881 to help cover a sudden backdated rent increase imposed by the Forest Service.
Given its importance as a tourism and educational attraction — and its charitable status — councillors agreed the support was justified.
🗳️ Have Your Say on Census 2031
Finally, councillors were encouraged to respond to the Census 2031 consultation, which is open until February 2026.
This is your chance (as individuals or groups) to influence:
What questions are asked
How data is used for services and funding
How communities are represented
In Short: What This Meeting Means for You
✔ Community groups continue to receive strong financial support
✔ New funding opportunities are opening soon
✔ Seniors, families, and vulnerable groups remain a priority
✔ Local heritage, arts, and wellbeing projects are moving forward
✔ Council facilities are being used more actively by the community
If you want to see how decisions made in council chambers affect everyday life, this meeting was a good example of that in action.