Margaret Reid scoops Housing Executive rural award
Margaret Reid, Chairperson of the Young at Heart group in Co Derry/Londonderry has secured a £500 prize as part of this year’s Housing Executive’s Rural Community Awards.
Situated in Ballintoy on the beautiful Causeway Coast, the Young at Heart project strives to combat isolation by socially connecting the over 55s in the surrounding areas.
Held this year in The Lodge Hotel, Coleraine the annual Rural Community Awards event provides a showcase for individuals and groups undertaking outstanding volunteering work at grassroots level in rural areas across Northern Ireland, helping maintain local neighbourhoods and boosting civic pride.
Noeleen Connolly, Housing Executive Team Leader Ballymoney and Ballycastle said,
“The Housing Executive are delighted that Margaret Reid took top prize in our rural awards Community Champion section.
“Margaret epitomizes the phrase Community Champion.
“Well done, Margaret!”
Margaret said: “I’m just over the moon and a little bit emotional about winning this award.
“Any small grants that come along I try to get for the group.
“We have used these for trips away, meals out, arts and crafts workshops and to fund our extremely popular luncheon club.
“I just love the work I do for Young at Heart from taking meals to isolated people during Covid, to getting together to work on craft projects.
“The biggest of our creative programmes was when we created colourful mosaics for the flowerbeds around the village.
“We are very proud of these.”