The final event of the Discover Saintfield Community programme took place on Sunday 26th May in the newly completed Saintfield Community Centre. The first four events (the three heritage talks and the guided tour of Saintfield) went according to this plan and were hugely successful – the numbers attending exceeding all our expectations and two further heritage events being planned as a result.
The fifth event, a Community Fair, was organised by Saintfield Development Association and Saintfield Community Trust, with help from Saintfield Traders and community groups. There were five zones at the Fair – a Sports Zone, organised by St Mochai’s GAC, Saintfield United FC and Saintfield Cricket Club, a Music Zone organised by Fred King with star attraction Peter Corry, a Market Zone organised by John and Moira George of Barn Owl, a Children’s Zone organised by Catherine Downey of St Mary’s Primary School and a Life Zone, organised by Barbara Graham.
Around 2,000 people shared in the fun of the Fair while seeing around the new community centre facilities – an indoor artificial grass training space, a large hall, a studio, a kitchen and a small meeting room. Local traders had stalls to show their wares and community groups also engaged with the people attending. There was fun for young people, including face painting, kite making and crazy golf.
The objectives of Discover Saintfield Community were to increase a feeling of pride in the Saintfield area and encourage more engagement in community activities. The Fair was the grand finale, with the focus on signing up new volunteers. Janice McHenry and her team succeeded in signing up over 40 new volunteers. This is exactly what the stalwarts of Saintfield Development Association and Saintfield Community Trust need, to share the burden of what they are doing for the wider Saintfield community.
Martyn Todd, Chair of SDA and a Trustee of SCT said, “I could not stop myself grinning with pleasure seeing all the families and children enjoying the day and, more importantly, seeing them feeling good about their community. Thanks to all those who helped organise this very successful event – the stalls, music, the sports exhibitions and kids’ fun, all safely marshalled by volunteers.”