News & Events – Page 2 – Milford & District Resource Centre

MDRC Proposal: A Town Park for Milford

On February 21, 2023

As part of the Milford Town Centre First Plan, MDRC are putting forward a proposal for a Town Park to be included as part of considerations so that the people of the community can have their say. Residents, school-goers and business owners are all welcome to take part in the ongoing public consultation, which is […]

Mulroy Youth Engagement Project building a better future for Local Young People

On December 8, 2022

Funding of over €147,000 granted for two-year project A new project is aiming to help youths in rural and urban communities in North Donegal to create a better future through the development of employment skills, mentoring support, confidence building and provision of emotional well-being programmes. The Mulroy Youth Engagement Project- The ‘M.Y.E Future’ […]

Paddy Harte of the International Fund for Ireland pictured with Declan Meehan (Manager of Milford FRC), Stephen Barrett (Programme Manager IFI) and Maria Tonra (Youth Project Co-ordinator). (NW Newspix/Donal Dunn)[/caption] The Mulroy Youth Engagement Project- The ‘M.Y.E Future’ Project has received funding of over €147,000 from the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) to work with young people aged 16-25 over the course of an initial two-year project. It is funded under the IFI’s Personal Youth Development Programme (PYDP) which aims to help young people build and develop life skills that foster good relations, build confidence and resilience and make them more employable. The project also builds co-operation and networking on a cross-border/cross-community basis. The project will be primarily aimed at young people who are not currently in education, training or employment. Paddy Harte, IFI Chair commented on the launch of the project; “Today’s announcement marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter, one brimming with potential and promise and enormous opportunity to help positively impact the lives of so many young people. “We are acutely aware of the many challenges, that communities in the Mulroy Bay area and with whom MDRC work closely with, are facing. We recognise that while the legacy of the Troubles continues to impact many communities, there are now a myriad of other issues which have come centre stage and which influence the trajectory of peoples’ lives, particularly our young people. “We are immensely proud of what the Personal Youth Development Programme (PYDP) provides, in the form of a uniquely tailored support programme that gives young people the means and ways to change the direction of their lives and to make a valuable and long-lasting positive contribution to their communities. The programme meets young people at where they are in their own personal journey.” M.Y.E. Future will be co-ordinated and implemented by Milford & District Resource Centre (MDRC) who work with communities, across the Mulroy Bay area who are experiencing social and economic challenges ranging from unemployment, health and well-being issues, social isolation and urban and rural deprivation. Declan Meehan, Manager of MDRC, said: “We are very excited about the potential this project has to impact positively on the lives of so many young people in our community. Unfortunately, it is the case that some young people often get left behind due to lack of opportunities in rural Ireland. MYE Future Project aims to tackle this by tailoring pathways for these young people which will lead them into education, training or employment that genuinely interests them.” Marie Tonra, MYE Future Project Coordinator: “Here at the M.Y.E Future project, we believe there is greatness in all young people. We seek to help young people delve inwards and identify obstacles within their own life that might be keeping them stuck. Together, we will work collaboratively to identify said obstacles and work towards clear and actionable goals. The MYE future Project empowers young people to thrive, believe in themselves and fulfil their true potential.” Stephen Barrett, the IFI’s Programme Manager in Donegal, worked with MDRC to develop the project and said that, “MDRC are uniquely placed to respond effectively to the challenges within this community and to engage with young people who may be feeling disenfranchised and disengaged. The project is an incredible step forward, equipping participants with practical, relatable and transferable skills, the opportunity to experience new communities and new ways of thinking and above all to create a more fulfilling future for themselves.” Participants will benefit from a range of initiatives encompassing personal development and good relations, skills and social development as well as employment and education courses. The programme will also involve cross-border community work enabling participants to gain an understanding of the experiences of young people from other communities and develop an appreciation of cultural and heritage differences across communities. If you or someone you know in the Mulroy Bay area might be interested in this project reach then feel free to reach out to Marie on marie@mdrc.ie. " target="_blank">

Early Christmas Present for Milford Community

On December 1, 2022

Milford and District Resource Centre (MDRC) were delighted to announce this week that the Milford Reformed Presbyterian Church have gifted their former church building on the Kilmacrennan Road to the Milford Community. The transfer of ownership happened just in time for Christmas. “This is a hugely significant gift to the wider Milford community from […]

Milford and District Resource Centre (MDRC) were delighted to announce this week that the Milford Reformed Presbyterian Church have gifted their former church building on the Kilmacrennan Road to the Milford Community. The transfer of ownership happened just in time for Christmas. “This is a hugely significant gift to the wider Milford community from the Reformed Presbyterian Church' said Declan Meehan, Manager of Milford & District Resource Centre. “We approached the church earlier this year with a proposal to put the building, which has been vacant for four years, into community ownership, and the response from the elders and pastors was immediately positive. Milford has always struggled with availability of, and access to, community space and, in particular, within our own building at the top of the town, we have not been able to offer community activities, services and programmes which are needed. The gifting of this building to the community through MDRC is a once in a generation opportunity for the town and will allow us to develop an accessible, town-centre facility that meets the needs of everyone who lives here. We are so grateful to the Reformed Presbyterian congregation, and we are extremely excited about the potential and the impact the development of this building will have on Milford for decades to come. I'd like to thank our own Board of Directors and staff at MDRC for their contribution to getting this over the line as well.” [caption id='attachment_3392' align='alignnone' width='940'] Pastor Mark Loughridge, Ivan McCausland, Billy Vaughan, MDRC Manager Declan Meehan, MDRC Chairperson Paul McElhinney[/caption] Pastor Mark Loughridge said “We didn’t want to see the building fall into ruin, and when the opportunity came to donate it to the community it really ticked all of our boxes. The church is the people, but there are still a lot of memories in the building. People were married here, people had funerals here, people had their baptisms here. They sat here week after week for over 180 years. For all those reasons we wanted to have some life, and some future, in the building. It now has a second chance at life. We were really pleased that the congregation were unanimous in their desire to see the building handed over and put to good use. It shows the heart of the congregation, and this building will now have a new purpose in the heart of the village.” [caption id='attachment_3393' align='alignnone' width='940'] MDRC Manager Declan Meehan, Pastor Jonny McCollum, Irene McCausland, Ivan McCausland, Anne Vaughan, Billy Vaughan, Paul McElhinney, Pastor Mark Loughridge, MDRC Treasurer Stephanie Hagan, Mary Crossan, Martin Crossan[/caption] Pastor Jonny McCollum shared his thoughts also “We’re really happy that the community is going to get some good use out of the building. It served the congregation for many, many years, and hopefully it will serve the wider community for many years too.” This building will be a fantastic community asset for everyone to avail of, with potential for various uses. It will be an inclusive and accessible space for groups to meet, community events, coffee mornings, craft fairs, performances, community education initiatives and more. The possibilities are almost endless for a space of this size. A public consultation will take place in the coming weeks and months, both in person and online to ensure everyone has an opportunity to share their ideas for the community space. As the building has not been used in several years, significant repairs will need to be undertaken, and as a community organisation Milford & District Resource Centre are well placed to apply for funding opportunities to renovate and repurpose this wonderful space. As well as funding opportunities, MDRC will also run fundraising campaigns to help cover the costs of some of the necessary works. 'The building requires a lot of work' said Meehan, 'but we can see that, in time, this will be a fantastic, much-needed asset for the community. We are also committed, as part of our renovations of this building, to preserve its character and heritage, as well as the history of the Covenanter community in this area.' The church building was built in 1837 after the amalgamation of the congregations based in meeting houses in Ramelton and Ballygay, Milford. The current layout includes several rooms within the building: the main church hall, another large activity hall, a kitchen, bathrooms and storage areas. Previous refurbishment work took place in 1926 and 2005, with further work now planned for 2023. MDRC would once again like to express their thanks to Pastors Mark and Jonny, the elders, and all of the congregation who made this possible. The Reformed Presbyterian Church is now located at their new home in units 1 and 2 of the Milford Retail Park. " target="_blank">

Now recruiting participants aged 16-25 for the MYE Future Project!

On November 14, 2022

We are now recruiting participants for the MYE Future Project! Who is it for? Young people aged 16-25 in the wider Mulroy area Who aren’t in full time employment, training or education Who aren’t sure what they want to do next, or maybe how to go about their next step! Get support to take the […]

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MDRC Proposal: A Town Park for Milford

Mulroy Youth Engagement Project building a better future for Local Young People

Early Christmas Present for Milford Community

Now recruiting participants aged 16-25 for the MYE Future Project!

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