Brookville Enterprises was established in 2018 for redevelopment and revitalisation of the Mid-Antrim area and to advance community development. The particular focus of the group is based on the needs of the local communities living in South Ballymena. Brookville Enterprises works across the Council Wards of Harryville, Ballee and Ballykeel, which fall inside the top 200 of the most deprived Council Wards in Northern Ireland as outlined in the latest NISRA Statistics.
Our project for this year was multifaceted, aiming to address health inequalities in our local area through community development, using horticulture as its base constituent. In collaboration with the New to Nature Team at GroundworkNI, six volunteers developed various initiatives, over 12 workshops, most of which were based at our Scullery O’Tullagh (SOT) site in South Ballymena.
These initiatives include developing our own herbal tea blends from wildflowers and herbs grown at the allotments and utilising vegetable parts that would otherwise be composted, or even worse put into landfill sites. The long-term aim of our entire project is for the SOT to become commercially viable, hence reducing our dependence on external funding, for core business costs. We ran a series of six workshops from September to December, involving 30 attendees from three local groups, where participants grew Hyacinths, Dwarf Narcissi, and Amaryllis to brighten their homes during the winter months. Over the past number of years, with support from the Elevate Programme, we have deepened our engagement with the community, fostering a safe and inclusive space where everyone can contribute, regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. Our volunteers' strengths, skills, knowledge, and experiences have flourished, allowing them to grow both personally and collectively.
The Elevate Programme has been instrumental in our journey. The support we received enabled us to connect with our community in ways we never imagined, leading to a significant increase in visitors and participants. This growth has prompted us to consider expanding our covered areas to accommodate more people, a testament to the impact of our efforts. Our decision-making process, based on collective consensus around our table, has seamlessly integrated new volunteers, including individuals from diverse backgrounds. This inclusive approach has strengthened our collective action and fostered a sense of unity among our volunteers.
Working and learning together, we have developed techniques that we share with like-minded groups in Bushmills, Dervock, and schools across the Northern Health & Social Care Trust area, again in collaboration with GroundworkNI. This collaborative spirit has extended our reach and influence, benefiting a broader community. However, we recognize the importance of Good Community Development Governance, ensuring transparency and accountability in our actions is crucial, and we continue to seek mentoring support to enhance our practices. Over the past four years, the Elevate Programme has been fundamental to our development. Our volunteers now confidently support other projects, indicating significant progress. Despite challenges like adverse weather, we have consistently demonstrated the benefits of collective community horticulture.
“Through these efforts, the Scullery O’Tullagh Project continues to thrive, making a tangible impact on our community's health and well-being.”
