Community Bodies Merge in Saintfield
The Saintfield Development Association (SDA) and the Saintfield Community Trust (SCT) have merged to form the Saintfield Community Association.
The SDA has taken the lead in numerous projects and improvements in the town, of which the new community centre is a prime example.
Over the years the SDA has maintained a good relationship with Newry Mourne and Down District Council and Rowallane councillors, as well as lobbying both Council and statutory bodies to ensure that Saintfield’s voice is heard.
The Saintfield Community Trust was set up five years ago to manage the town’s community centre on behalf of Newry Mourne and Down District Council. Since then, the two organisations have maintained a very close relationship.
The merger was facilitated by Andrew Talbot of Collaboration Ireland. The two boards and their committees worked through the necessary administrative formalities over the last few months, resulting in the unanimous agreement of all SDA and SCT members to the union.
It was felt that merging would create a stronger community association, able to deliver more for the residents of the Saintfield area.
With the necessary legal input provided at no charge by Peter Bowles, a local solicitor, the merger was completed successfully on 24th October.
Martyn Todd, who chaired the SDA for the past few years, said: “It is ten years since Saintfield Development Association was established and five years since Saintfield Community Trust was established.
“Since then, the two organisations have cooperated very closely and are currently working on a number of major projects together, so it made sense for the two to merge into one community group.”
Graham Erskine, who chaired the SCT, commented: “I am very pleased that the merger of Saintfield Development Association and Saintfield Community Trust has been completed successfully.
“The two organisations have worked tirelessly for the residents of Saintfield and I am sure we will now be even more effective under the new Saintfield Community Association banner. Responsibility for running the Saintfield Community Centre now passes over to SCA.”
Mr. Todd and Mr. Erskine will jointly chair the new association until the annual general meeting, the date of which will be announced in due course.
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