North Antrim Co-ops focus of study tour

Successful community-owned co-operatives in Ballymena, Connor and Toomebridge are to be highlighted on a free study tour.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Mar 2017, 14:09 BST
Updated 24th Mar 2017, 11:08 BST
Co-operative Alternatives in partnership with Social Enterprise NI has organised a free study tour to highlight the energy and diversity of our co-operatives and offer people the opportunity to talk to those who are running successful co-operative models. Key stopes are in Ballymena, Connor and Toomebridge.Co-operative Alternatives in partnership with Social Enterprise NI has organised a free study tour to highlight the energy and diversity of our co-operatives and offer people the opportunity to talk to those who are running successful co-operative models. Key stopes are in Ballymena, Connor and Toomebridge.
Co-operative Alternatives in partnership with Social Enterprise NI has organised a free study tour to highlight the energy and diversity of our co-operatives and offer people the opportunity to talk to those who are running successful co-operative models. Key stopes are in Ballymena, Connor and Toomebridge.

Co-operative Alternatives in partnership with Social Enterprise NI has organised the tour to highlight the energy and diversity of the province’s co-operatives and offer people the opportunity to talk to those who are running successful co-operative models and key stops are in Ballymena and Antrim.

The half day event is on Friday, March 24, with a mini-bus tour from Belfast to Toomebridge via Ballymena and back to sample products and talk to co-operators.

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Starting with a breakfast and a talk at Loveworks in Duncairn Gardens, the tour will head to Breezemount Farm in Connor to talk to co-operatives skilled in Renewable Energy including NI Community Energy (NICE), Northern Ireland’s only solar energy co-operative and Drumlin Wind Energy, a co-operative co-owning six wind turbines.

Raglan: Co-operative Alternatives in partnership with Social Enterprise NI has organised a free study tour to highlight the energy and diversity of our co-operatives and offer people the opportunity to talk to those who are running successful co-operative models. One of the stops along the way will include meeting the team from Raglan Community Development and Renovation Society in Harryville, Ballymena.Raglan: Co-operative Alternatives in partnership with Social Enterprise NI has organised a free study tour to highlight the energy and diversity of our co-operatives and offer people the opportunity to talk to those who are running successful co-operative models. One of the stops along the way will include meeting the team from Raglan Community Development and Renovation Society in Harryville, Ballymena.
Raglan: Co-operative Alternatives in partnership with Social Enterprise NI has organised a free study tour to highlight the energy and diversity of our co-operatives and offer people the opportunity to talk to those who are running successful co-operative models. One of the stops along the way will include meeting the team from Raglan Community Development and Renovation Society in Harryville, Ballymena.

Next on the tour will be Harryville in Ballymena for coffee with the Raglan Community Development and Renovation Society, which is working to raise £100,000 in community shares towards an ambitious project to create a community hub, with 10 business units and exhibition area in the Slemish n tha Braid Credit Union building.

Then it’s on to Toomebridge, centre of the Northern Ireland eel fishing industry to talk to Lough Neagh Fisherman’s Co-operative and to taste the product.

Tour places are free but must be booked in advance at https://co-operative_tour_2017.eventbrite.co.uk or contact Tiziana O’Hara at [email protected] or call 07858317634.

Related topics:BallymenaConnorNorthern IrelandRenewable Energy