Minister Joins Multi-Agency Team Supporting Improvements in Carrick’s Sunnylands & Woodburn Estates

Thanks to everyone who braved the Rain for The Sunnylands & Woodburn Estate Inspection

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons joined residents and multiple agencies on Friday, 3rd October, for a collaborative estate inspection at Sunnylands & Woodburn Estates in Carrickfergus, demonstrating a commitment to addressing local issues through coordinated action.

Hosted by Supporting Communities, the inspection assembled representatives from Sunnylands & Woodburn Community Association, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), Department for Infrastructure (DfI), MEA Borough Council, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to address ongoing issues and to work in partnership on enhancing residents' quality of life and the environment. 

Minister Lyons said: "This was an excellent opportunity to engage directly with the community and agencies that work together to improve services and facilities in the area, and I am pleased to be able to hear firsthand about the issues faced by the local community. Bringing all the relevant parties together ensures that we can deliver coordinated solutions that make a real difference to residents' daily lives."

Estate Inspections: A Multi-Agency Approach

The Supporting Communities Team sporting their new Coats just in Time for the Storm

Problems such as illegal dumping, road issues, pathways, grass cutting and weed control, dog bins, improvements to parks and recreational areas, environmental health issues, and hotspot areas for loitering and anti-social behaviour can all significantly impact residents' quality of life.

These issues typically fall under different jurisdictions - the Housing Executive or Housing Associations may be responsible for some areas, while others are covered by the Department for Infrastructure. Behavioural issues may require PSNI involvement, and local councils have their own responsibilities. Rather than residents having to navigate these different agencies separately, estate inspections bring all relevant parties together to ensure coordinated action.

“Estate inspections represent a key step in addressing complex community challenges that often require coordinated responses from multiple agencies,” explains Colm McDaid, CEO of Supporting Communities. “Our Community Development Officers work on the ground with community and resident groups to bring all parties together for a ‘walk-about’ to observe the situation at the same time and agree on steps to resolve any problems.”

Supporting Communities facilitates approximately 130 estate inspections each year across Northern Ireland, empowering communities to improve their quality of life. These community-led inspections provide enormous benefits for all area residents - whether in social housing, private rented accommodation, or owner-occupied properties.

As an independent charity working with the Housing Executive, Supporting Communities is uniquely positioned to bring all agencies and the community together in partnership. The inter-agency approach allows residents' groups to identify problems and find solutions that benefit everyone in the area, with all relevant agencies able to see issues firsthand and commit to coordinated responses.

Interagency working in action!