Mid and East Antrim still 'Putting People First'

Four years into delivering multiple services for the people of Mid and East Antrim, community planning well on its way to bolstering a strong, vibrant, safe and inclusive community.

‘Putting People First’ was the document released in 2017 outlining how Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, alongside a range of partners, would work together to improve the lives of everyone who lives or works here.

Four years, a pandemic and two rain checks on progress later, things are looking up.

The plan outlines targets to achieve from 2017-2032 and covers five themes, Sustainable Jobs and Tourism, Good Health and Wellbeing, Progress in Education, Community Safety and Cohesion, and Environment.

Community Planning is about the public, private and voluntary organisations in the borough working together with communities to plan and deliver better services. This helps make a real difference to people’s lives and achieves long term objectives to improve the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of the area.

Mayor Cllr William McCaughey says citizens have helped shape what changes they want to see and that effort continues to support these goals: “Working together, we want to make this an even better place for all of our citizens. Putting People First enables all of us to achieve this. This plan will help all of the community planning partners to realise our vision of a strong, vibrant, safe and inclusive Mid and East Antrim.

“Despite the challenges that COVID-19 presented to the partnership in relation to continuing with delivery of the community plan, work did continue. Many of the actions were still relevant and necessary and took on a stronger focus such as addressing needs of older people and supporting mental health. New actions involving multiple partners commenced in response to the pandemic and many continue.

“Robust responses to COVID-19 were made possible through community planning partners and these have strengthened collaboration as well as making a difference to many lives including provision of fuel and food parcels, wellbeing interventions, mental health initiatives, community hubs and food banks.

“There is still work to do but already the success we’ve seen the past four year, despite global challenges that no-one could have predicted, it’s a definite glimmer of hope for a brighter future here for Mid and East Antrim.”

In April 2020, a Community Hub was established as a central place where people needing support with food, fuel, medical prescriptions and social needs could be signposted to groups and agencies for help during the pandemic.

With Council and the Northern Health and Social Care Trust working closely together, assistance was offered to those who were shielding, and the most vulnerable and isolated in our communities.

A dedicated helpline was set up with Mid and East Antrim Community Advice Services, to help residents who were having difficulty accessing regional helplines.

In June 2020, the Mid and East Antrim Loneliness Network distributed 125 Teenage Mental Health boxes to young people, and 50 salad kits to older people, to mark Loneliness Awareness Week.

Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership (MEAAP) has provided the borough’s older and more vulnerable residents with contact and support throughout the pandemic.

The organisation received more than 1,500 phone calls in the first six weeks, made more than 1000 calls and delivered almost 7,000 meals. They even fitted in three doorstep bingo sessions. Through the Policing and Community Safety Partnership, they operated a text alert system to help inform elderly people who were not online of the help and advice available throughout the pandemic.

The MEA Loneliness Network that was set up has been responsible for addressing digital poverty and isolation, distribution of a range of activity packs for all ages, provision of funding to member groups who are carrying out local projects to tackle loneliness.

The Network has also launched several “Chatty Benches” throughout the borough, and organised a series of connected “chatty” walks. Chatty cafes are currently being launched across Mid and East Antrim as well.

Six venues have received the ‘Autism Impact Award’ in recognition for going ‘above and beyond to create accessible and autism-friendly’ environments, including Carrickfergus Amphitheatre, Larne Leisure Centre, Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Carnfunnock Country Park, The Gobbins and The People’s Park.

The prestigious achievement involved staff training and a number of adjustments to improve accessibility and overall customer experience, including pre-visit guides and ‘quiet spaces’ at a number of venues.

The Community Planning Partnership will now review the impact the pandemic has had on services and see if amendments need made to ‘Putting People First.’ This new approach will be unveiled in April after widespread consultation with partners, the community and residents.

For more information or to read about the latest results in more detail, you can go to www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/communityplanning