Super senior citizens at Turkington event

Super senior citizens from across Northern Ireland descended on Lisburn today (Thurs. Oct. 6) for a very special event.

Organised by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, the gathering sought the views of senior citizens on the Turkington Fund, administered by the Foundation, which offers small grants to groups working with older people.

Funded through The Atlantic Philanthropies, the Fund has disbursed over £330,000 in small grants since December 2007 to 313 local older people’s groups to promote active ageing and understanding between the generations.

Baroness May Blood, a long-time advocate for the causes of older people, was key speaker at the event at the Lagan Valley Island Conference Centre, while Mayor of Lisburn, Councillor Brian Heading, also came to show his support.

Workshops and feedback sessions allowed participants to give their views on the funding process, the grants available and the activities supported.

Sharon Killen, Community Projects Officer at the Community Foundation for a Northern Ireland, believes; “For a grant maker like our Foundation, it is very important to measure the impact of our activities and an event like this allows us to get direct feedback from those who benefit most.

“We are always trying to update and improve our work and grant applications have been made much easier now by our new online grant applications process”

Projects in greater Lisburn which have benefited from Turkington Fund support over the last three years include the Age on Stage, Mosside Ladies Together, Colin Neighbourhood Partnership, Magheragall Craft Group, Civil Service Retirement Group, Dunmurry Community Association, and Knockmore Community Association.

A wide range of crafts and photographs from projects run by older people were on display at the Valley Island Centre, illustrating the activities of those engaged in some of the funded schemes, including the Midland Senior Citizens Club in North Belfast, Golden Threads Creative Crafts, Upper Andersonstown Community Forum and Men United.

A special session, Working Creatively with Memories, was also facilitated by Alexey Janes from the Reminiscence Network Northern Ireland, who encourage local people to recall and value their personal life experience by the provision of reminiscence-based activities.