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Tomorrow morning 11 November you have a chance to jump aboard a virtual tour of three fantastic local social enterprises.
Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency in partnership with Work West is 'virtually' taking to the road with their 'Go Social' Virtual Bus Tour visiting Bolster Community, Made in Mourne and Harry's Place.
All are welcome to join the session tomorrow from 10.30am - 12pm. To join register at WWW.EVENTBRITE.CO.UK
These three examples of social enterprises are working to support their local economy right in the heart of their community. The three social enterprises will provide an insight into their social enterprise journey to date, the social impact they deliver for the local area and the contribution they make on a daily basis to the enrichment of the lives of local people in Newry and Mourne.
Bolster Community (previously known as SPACE NI) is an award winning social enterprise and charity that offers practical support for individuals and families across Newry and Mourne. They are practical, hands-on charity that works alongside individuals, families and communities to help them get through and get ahead. Since 2004, they have been helping countless individuals reach their full potential. From early years right through to later years, they support and strengthen people facing life’s tough challenges.
Ability services are dedicated to connecting children and young adults of mixed ability, helping them reach their full potential. Services include Youth Up Front a Youth Leadership programme for individuals aged 13-15 and the Award winning Acorn Candles Acorn Candles offer a limited number of supported work/training opportunities for young adults with a learning disability through our social enterprise at Bolster Community, making soy wax candles and hand poured luxury soap. Participants are supported in learning a range of skills including, Candle making, Soap Making, Merchandising, Packaging, Retail, Team work and personal Independence.
Practical and therapeutic support services for families provide practical and therapeutic support for parents and children, in the home, in the community and through evidence-based world class training programmes. Services include The Incredible Years® Series which provides is training for parents of babies to school age children.
Signposting and practical support for the older members of the community is delivered through their Seniors services including an award winning Home from Hospital Service and Comfort Zone is a weekly get together for older people and those new to the area to meet and enjoy company.
Bolster Community Impact in 2020 included 1,859 hours of support was provided for children and adults with disability, there were 24,000 support engagements with participants and £39,000 in Financial Support to benefit 366 families, older people and homeless
Made In Mourne is a Social Enterprise providing facilities, knowledge, and support for local entrepreneurs in the rural coastal Mourne region to launch and sustainably grow their businesses. They are helping small businesses counteract the lack of opportunities, poor internet connectivity, and physical isolation in an economically deprived rural area while enabling people to remaining working from home and raise their families in the beautiful Mournes.
The story of MADE in Mourne began, when a local Entrepreneur Jenna Stevenson found herself moving a successful business from the bright lights of Belfast City, to her home town in the heart of the Mourne Mountains where she wanted to raise her growing family. In 2017 the group found the perfect property and began a community crowd collaboration, where local businesses and individuals played their part by donating materials, labour and services to help deliver the project from inception to realisation in just 100 days!
Made In Mourne provide a fresh and stimulating environment to support and celebrate over 70 Mourne based talented creatives to carry out and showcase their work without barriers. There is a funky shop displaying the work of the makers, a business hub and co-working space, meeting rooms and incubation units. There is a regular series of events and workshops including Make the Artist and Maker, Digital Tuesdays, Mourne Business Networking, Silversmith, Candle making and Paint and Procesco Workshops, as well as a range of business support workshops.
The 70 + high quality makers export to over 60 countries world-wide via Made In Mourne’s online shop and a second specialist Original Art and Fine Jewellery Made In Mourne shop with additional incubation space will open before Christmas.
Harry's Place C.I.C. is the home of The Little Bearded Baker and all his Mates! In 2018 Gareth Little and a group of volunteers in Ballynahinch identified a gap in day-care provision for adults with learning disability and immediately identified thirty individuals who were lacking substantive educational, training or economic support and who faced multiple barriers to rewarding and sustainable employment.
In response to this Gareth initially established Harry’s Mates, which has a social and recreational emphasis, providing opportunities for the target group to interact socially with one another and with the volunteers to participate in events and outings contributing to their sense of well-being and to being valued members within the local community.
Based in Ballynahinch, the social enterprise has a Bakeria, Café, Zero Waste Shop and Social Hub.
The Social Hub – this provides a safe, welcoming and practical area for Harry’s Mates, adults with learning disability. Providing a range of technological facilities it allows the users to develop skills in use of computers and activities such as video and music production. It will also provide for the promotion of crafts and creative activities, art, writing and self-expression. There will be a range of activities aimed at raising awareness of self-worth and confidence within the user group enabling them to play a full and active part in their local community.
The Café is seen is a social space for the local community and Harry’s Mates to meet and socialise. It also provides work experience and job opportunities for Hary’s Mates. The Café offers a unique range of vegan food produced by the Bearded Baker. Harry’s Mates have the opportunity to improve their employability within the wider community with training including, potentially, BTEC City & Guilds Level 1 in Hospitality &Catering as well as Hospitality Customer Service.
Gareth has also established the Little Bearded Baker a Bakeria which specialises in 100% Vegan savoury pies and sweet treats that are homemade and fresh. Produce is sold in the Bakeria and orders are also delivered across Belfast, Cookstown, Banbridge, Donaghcloney, Dromore, Holywood, Lisburn, Portadown, Craigavon, Lurgan, Magheralin, Moira, Coalisland, Moygashel, Dungannon & Ballynahinch.
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Newry Business Charity Christmas Appeal have launched their 2021 Toy mountain campaign. It's the 22nd year of the Toy Mountain and they have raised some £1.6 million since it began.
Their committee are working feverishly in the background to ensure that, as in every other year, that no child in the greater Newry area will go without a toy this Christmas.
With the ongoing COVID 19 situation, the organising committee has taken the reluctant decision that the annual Newry Business Charity Dinner will not take place again this year.
At the time of planning, it was felt that it would be both precautionary and the safest approach to take to protect all our patrons, the committee and the hospitality venue staff, given the ongoing situation.
This has left the organising committee with the decision to continue to run another “virtual” fundraiser again this year.
In the absence of the annual dinner in the Canal Court Hotel, normally attended by some 700+ people each year, with each guest asked to bring a toy, the committee is reaching out to the business and wider community to make a donation or donate a toy to build this year’s toy mountain.
The toy mountain will rise again this year in the Canal Court Hotel on Friday 10 December with the support of patrons and colleagues throughout the business and wider community, reflecting in all its colourful glory the generosity in the spirit of Christmas that Newry has become synonymous for each year.
A spokesperson said "We would encourage everyone to get behind us this year and make this a happy Christmas for all our children.
"We had an overwhelming success last year, given the difficult circumstances we had to face in fundraising. However, as always the community came out and supported us to help ensure that those children less fortunate received a toy on Christmas morning.
"This has always been a community wide effort in support of Newry Hospice, St Vincent de Paul Society, The Salvation Army an many other charities in the area at a time when needs are most poignant."
Organisers have had lots of new fundraising initiatives start last year including local secondary schools building their own smaller Toy Mountains in school, which later became part of the large Toy Mountain. They also had drop off points around Newry and the surrounding area, where toys can be donated.
Some businesses have encouraged staff to donate a toy instead of Secret Santa or in the absence of Christmas party nights, so a massive effort was made across the wider community to support the initiative.
These new initiatives will continue and grow again this year as more schools and businesses get involved again.
If you're school or business are interested in supporting the appeal please get in touch!
The organising committee are asking people to make a special effort to help them again this year, to give as if it were your own children facing a cold empty Christmas. The St Vincent de Paul Society and Salvation Army depend on your generosity.
There are two methods of donating or giving, you can donate cash via their “go-fund me page” at WWW.GOFUNDME.COM
There are also a number of locations in Newry that toys can be dropped off at.
Toy drop-off points this year:
Honorary consul of Poland in Northern Ireland, Jerome Mullen, along with present committee members Declan Mc Chesney, Dr Gerard O'Hare have been involved with the Newry Christmas Charity dinner initiative since it began over 21 years ago and are pleased to see the addition and dynamism of newer and continuous members Gemma Murphy, Anne Murphy, Katrina Quinn, Caroline Courtney, Robyn-May Quinn and Mary Doran.
From the initial concept when first launched, to this year, this event is ultimately about families and children at Christmas.
Christmas is a time of memories that stay with us all of our lives. For even one child to go disappointed on Christmas morning, is one too many.
In the greater Newry area because of the generosity of the spirit of Christmas, contributers have avoided any child being disappointed on Christmas morning for over 21 years.
A spokesperson concluded "To this same end, the Newry Business Christmas Charity Toy mountain is more important this year than ever before, but we believe that our business and wider community stand ready to rise to the call, despite the challenges that we have all had to face during the past 18 months.
"Let’s make this Christmas a Christmas for everyone !"
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Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade have launched their first ever NI Workplace Health & Wellbeing Conference. The new event will take place on Tuesday 30 November 2021 (8am to 12.30pm) at the Canal Court Hotel & Spa, Newry. It will include keynote speakers, case studies and an exhibition space.
The event is supported by principal sponsors Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Action Mental Health. It is open to organisations of any size from across NI, not just the Greater Newry area.
Emma Mullen, President of Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade said, “Businesses and their employees have experienced an extremely challenging last 18 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This has had a negative effect on the physical and mental health of many of our citizens. We feel now is the right time to help local employers to come together, share best practice and help them develop effective health and wellbeing strategies for their workplaces.
The conference will include expert speakers from specialist organisations and local employers who are leading the way with their programmes. We are looking forward to keynote addresses from Nicola Connolly Byrne, Founder of I AM Positive Mindset and John Ryan, Founder & CEO Healthy Place to Work. NI Chest Heart & Stroke will present on their Work Well Live Well programme.
We are extremely grateful to our sponsors Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Action Mental Health. Without their support we could not run this, not to be missed, conference”.
Oonagh Magennis, Vice Chair of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council said, “We are delighted to support Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade with this important initiative. As a council one of our key objectives is to improve the lives and livelihoods of the people who live and work in this region. It is important that we work across all three sectors, public, voluntary and private, to share what works best to support employees.
Rachael Power, AMH Works Manager, Action Mental Health, commented “AMH are delighted to be sponsoring this important conference and to be working with Newry Chamber of Commerce and Newry Mourne and Down Council to support local business. We are thrilled to see employers in the Newry area taking such a proactive approach to the mental health and well-being of employees and we look forward to working with them in the future.”
The NI Workplace Health & Wellbeing takes place on Tuesday 30 November. To view the event programmme, full speaker line up and to book your FREE place, please visit newrychamber.com
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A County Armagh engineering company is using the skills and knowledge of its expert craftsmen to redesign trailers to support the recycling and recovery of waste.
Re-Gen Waste’s sister company Re-Eng is based outside Newry, and Engineering Manager Glyn Gee says that the work undertaken has produced trailers that look as they would, arriving new, from any leading trailer manufacturer.
“Our team of 10 designers, welders, fabricators and painters have worked effectively to produce trailers which meet health and safety requirements, are of a high specification and meet the needs of our customers,” explains Glyn. “In addition, eight external contractors are involved in assisting with fabrication and painting. In total, the 18 jobs add approximately £630,000 to the local economy every year.”
“We struggled to find trailers which were strong enough to suit the requirements of Re-Gen, so we decided to make our own to our bespoke requirement. We have standardised our design, production and processes, and the re-engineered trailers look like new equipment straight off the manufacturing line. Our designers created a superior framework with increased strength and functionality to add to a strengthened flatbed. Additionally-supported curtains and new strengthened doors and door furniture all add to the overall makeup of these trailers. Side guards, access ladder and walkway were fitted as extra safety features. Each trailer was spray painted in the company colours, and new lights and crash barriers were added.”
The company has refreshed 66 trailers to date and Glyn says that working with local trades people and tarpaulin cover manufacturers has made the process run smoothly.
“The re-engineering of the trailers has been an interesting and important project. Having excellent working relationships with local suppliers providing high quality materials and additional support has added value to the work we are doing in Ballard. We are also fortunate to have two enthusiastic apprentices on site who have contributed to the project.”
Conor Muckian, from Newry, recently passed the first year in Higher Level Apprenticeship in Mechatronics at Southern Regional College.
“I was invited into Re-Gen Waste for an induction day where I was shown the plant, taken on a tour of the different sections and talked through the apprenticeship programme,” says Conor.
“It was interesting finding out how the company completes the recycling processes and how the in-house engineering department is very important to the facility at Carnbane Industrial Estate. I have been involved in every area of engineering from design to fabrication and I feel that this has really helped me understand the processes.”
Jack Murphy, who is also from Newry, is studying Mechatronics while working four days each week.
Jack adds: “I’ve learnt so much about the design and fabrication process and have had hands-on experience in making different things. Since I started working for Re-Gen, I have been given the opportunity to use mills, lathes, press breaks and plasma cutters that I would have not otherwise get to use. Every day is different, and I’ve never been bored doing the job. It is, mostly, a relaxed environment but at times I have deadlines to work to in get tasks completed.”
For more information on the Re-Gen Group, visit WWW.REGENWASTE.COM
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The Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade is appealing to the UK Government to find solutions to resolve ongoing issues related to the Northern Ireland Protocol, rather than triggering Article 16.
With talks between Brexit Minister, Lord Frost, and European Commission Vice President, Maros Šefčovič, at a critical stage, Newry Chamber, on behalf of its members, calls for certainty and stability.
Emma Mullen Marmion, President of Newry Chamber said, “Reports that the UK Government are preparing to trigger Article 16 is unhelpful and does nothing to offer confidence to our business community. The NI protocol is a consequence of Brexit, while parts of it will undoubtedly require practical adaptations. It may not be perfect but many of our members have already been successfully making it work for them.
“We have had good engagement with both sides over recent months. Lord Forst and Maros Šefčovič have visited Newry to better understand our issues. We have stressed that Newry’s prosperity depends on dual market access being maintained.
We know that extending grace periods is not the answer, but nor is triggering article 16, due to our location close to the border and the fact that the whole island of Ireland is in practice our home market. This has a potentially devastating impact on our members.
“We hope that as we approach the first anniversary of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, that through continued dialogue a compromise will be achieved. This is what the business community of Newry wants so they can have the certainty required to allow them to focus on growing the economy”.
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Enya McAteer, Manager of Mulkerns SPAR, Jonesborough has been named in a prestigious national 30 under 30 list of retailers across the UK.
Enya is one of only two from Northern Ireland to appear on the inaugural list produced by RN Magazine.
Described as ‘the young innovators shaping the future of independent convenience retail’, the list is a first for the popular publication which sought to find and celebrate the next generation of independent retailers; “those who were seizing the initiative and taking advantage of new opportunities in an industry that is constantly evolving”, according to the RN 30 Under 30 editor, Charles Whitting.
Enya, who recently picked up the Convenience Rising Star award at the Convenience Awards in London, has been described as a strategist in the list, using data from sales and order analysis to inform fresh stock orders, and creating strategic six-month plans for the business.
Commenting on her achievement, Enya said; “The past couple of years have been a completely new learning experience, and as store managers who had to change things overnight, we had to think on our feet. That’s retailing, and it’s knowing who your customer is and what they want and expect from their local store.
“Working as an independent retailer with the Mulkerns family has enhanced my career immensely. They’ve trusted me with their Jonesborough store and alongside my team, we have taken on the challenge and delivered. I am so proud of our store and team, and really proud to be on RN’s 30 Under 30 list amongst some of the top independent retailers in the UK.”
And while the list celebrates the stars of the future, Paddy Doody, Sales and Marketing Director at Henderson Group which owns the SPAR brand in Northern Ireland says these are retailers making a difference here and now.
Paddy commented; “Enya is one of the store managers who has stepped up and gone above and beyond for their local community when they needed their local stores most. Independent retailing in Northern Ireland is the standard to beat across the UK – only recently the Mulkerns team brought home no less than six awards from national awards ceremonies in London. They set the bar alongside their peers here, and Enya’s spot on this list is more than deserved. Congratulations!”
RN’s 30 Under 30 supplement is available to read with RN Magazine’s November issue, on sale now.
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Newry, Mourne and Down Council Councillor, Cllr Pete Byrne has been elected Chair of the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor (DBEC) Oversight Board, a body made up of councillors from the eight local authorities along the corridor. Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh of Fingal County Council in Ireland was named Deputy Chair.
The new cross-border partnership was established to foster economic growth along the key strategic route between Dublin and Belfast today announced its inaugural political leadership team who will help drive employment opportunities, address barriers impacting trade and encourage the delivery of better transport infrastructure.
Addressing the Oversight Board’s meeting in County Meath, new Chair Cllr Pete Byrne said: “We have a real opportunity through the work of DBEC to deliver jobs and sustainable growth along what is a major economic pipeline for the whole of the island. There is a rich and diverse range of sectors and a large number of businesses which we can help to grow, be it in Agri-Food, financial services, tourism, high tech manufacturing or construction.
“Importantly, as a joint partnership this will go beyond focussing on the big cities which bookend the corridor and allow us to tackle regional disparities head on by leveraging the existing local government network and resources of the participating partners, as well as encouraging buy-in and engagement from the private sector.”
Deputy Chair of DBEC Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh said: “Alongside the obvious social and economic benefits of closer cross border collaboration in order to develop the corridor, what we are looking to help drive is greater inward investment, the boosting of trade opportunities for local businesses, increased production in key sectors and higher employment. This will be increasing important as the population along the corridor continues to grow.”
As part of their efforts to develop a regional proposition for economic growth, DBEC has engaged leading consultants KPMG to undertake work which will help deliver a development plan to identify priority areas of cooperation between the councils and what DBEC could look to do to encourage greater economic regeneration across the corridor area.
Launched earlier this year, the DBEC partnership has members coming from four councils on either side of the border. There are 24 councillors who sit on the Oversight Board, three coming from each of the eight councils involved: Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council; Belfast City Council; Dublin City Council; Fingal County Council; Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council; Louth County Council; Meath County Council; and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
The partnership also includes Dublin City University and Ulster University who collaborated to produce the report that led to the formation of the group in March of this year.
Currently there are some two million people living in the eight council areas that the economic corridor passes through, however its population is expected to grow faster than elsewhere across the island of Ireland. Predictions are that the total population will reach 2.5 million by 2040, bringing with it a younger and more diverse concentration of people.
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Bolster Community Job Vacancies
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Newry based Architecture firm, Gray Design has added two new faces to their Architectural team.
The firm has appointed Gerard Boyle as Senior Architect. Gerard has a BA Honours degree in Architecture from Manchester Polytechnic, a Bachelor of Architecture from Manchester Metropolitan University, and a Professional Practice certificate from RIBA.
With 25 years’ experience in the architecture industry across the UK and Ireland, Gerard began his professional career at W.S Atkins through a Development Scheme before occupying a number of roles at firms including Fairhurst Design Group, Halliday Fraser Munro Architects, Samuel Stevenson & Sons, JNP Architects, and 3DReid Ltd as Divisional Director. Gerard has also worked as Development Officer at Choice Housing Ltd and McAdam Design Ltd.
In his new role he will be responsible for managing entire design projects, developing, and presenting project proposals, meeting with clients to determine project requirements, conducting research and compiling project reports, determining budgets and timelines, managing project teams, and preparing drawings, specifications, and documentation in collaboration with design professionals.
Gray Design have also appointed Daniel Murphy as its new Architectural Technologist.
Daniel has a BSc Honours degree in Architectural Technology and Management from Ulster University and a foundation degree in Architectural Technology from Belfast Metropolitan.
This is Daniel’s first professional role. As an Architectural Technologist, he will be responsible with conceiving projects and technical design, as well as developing and detailing for Gray Design clients across Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
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