Volunteers spurred on by The Big Help Out

Six events were hosted by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council in partnership with community groups to provide opportunities for people to experience volunteering and make a difference in their communities.

The Big Help Out events were as follows:

• Environmental Work on Ram’s Island with The River Bann and Lough Neagh Association
• Planting at Antrim Castle Gardens with Friends of Antrim Castle Gardens
• Burnside Riverside Walk and Community Clean Up with Burnside Village Committee
• Horticultural Work at the Lock Keepers Cottage with Tidal, Toome
• Arts and Crafts/ Card Making in association with local nursing homes with the Community Relations Forum
• Horticultural Project in the new Community Garden, assisting those with disabilities with Whiteabbey Community Group

Speaking on The Big Help Out, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Alderman Stephen Ross said, “It was brilliant to see so many volunteers show up across the Borough to take part in The Big Help Out and make a difference in their communities. We highly value our volunteers and recognise their hard work, passion and dedication towards helping others. We hope these events will help new volunteers make lasting connections with these organisations and that this experience will spur them on to volunteer on a regular basis.”

The Big Help Out is just the beginning of the voluntary spirit we hope to embrace across the Borough. There is a number of upcoming events in June including Volunteers Week (1-7 June), Carers Week (5-11 June), Loneliness Awareness Week (12-16 June) and Small Charity Week (19-23 June). To link in with these awareness weeks the Council will be reaching out to voluntary organisations to provide a ‘Spotlight on Volunteering’.

If you are a community or voluntary group and are looking for new volunteers and to raise awareness of the help your organisation provides get in touch with the Council by visiting antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/SpotlightOnVolunteering