Ballymena Friendship Club Scale New Heights at Tollymore

facilitated by Ardclinis Outdoor Adventure (www.ardclinis.com). Over the last number of weeks the group were also provided with the opportunity to try out a session of archery and lazer tag at Watertop Open Farm, Antrim, they then travelled to the Giants Causeway to venture across the Carrick-a-Rede Rope bridge and experienced the wonders of water bouldering at Bloody Bridge. A member of the youth group highlighted, “At the start of each activity session I was quite scared as I didn’t know what to expect. But since experiencing water bouldering, archery and climbing, I have gained so much confidence that I even want to have a go at skydiving”. The outdoor activity sessions were arranged by the Venture Outdoors - Creating Healthy Communities project with the aim to help people with disabilities and those from ethnic minority and disadvantaged communities all over Northern Ireland to access the outdoors, encourage them to take part in outdoor activities and also learn about where they can get involved in outdoor activities in their local area. The Ballymena Friendship Club was established in June 2011 and aims to provide a safe shared cultural space to meet others and socialise. It is open to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. The outdoor activity taster sessions will provide the members with opportunities to mix, socialise and build relationships with each other.Ivy Ridge, Ethnic Minorities Project Manager highlighted, It was wonderful to give children from the ethnic minority community and the local community in Ballymena the opportunity to explore and experience the numerous outdoor activities that Northern Ireland has to offer. New friendships were formed and confidence was built in a safe environment to try activities they had never experienced before. I would like to thank Damian, John and Jo from Ardclinis for their patience and encouragement to the children to believe in themselves. From now on the possibilities are endless, for they can go abseiling, rock climbing, coasteering and river bouldering without fear - and that is a tremendous gift indeed!”.The Ballymena Friendship Club is only 1 of 40 groups across Northern Ireland taking part in outdoor activities sessions with Venture Outdoors. Maeve Curran, Venture Outdoors Marketing Officer, highlighted, “CAAN are delighted with the success of the ‘Venture Outdoors’ project to date and the role it plays in engaging with people with disabilities, minority ethnic and disadvantaged communities in outdoor recreation.” The Venture Outdoors Project is a 3 year initiative of the Countryside Access and Activities Network and has been provided with a grant of £500,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities Programme and Ulster Garden Villages. For more information on the Venture Outdoors – Creating Healthy Communities Project contact Maeve Curran 02890 303 [email protected].