Our Community: Jennie O’Hara - Ballinamore Area Community Council

Across two community buildings, The Sports Complex and The Den, Jennie and her team have brought circular initiatives to the community in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Thanks to Peace programme funding, their one-stop-shop and Community Services Hub is a place both for Ballinamore residents to access support and information and to engage in circular initiatives, from swaps to sewing skills.

Jennie encourages curiosity and positive change.

“We are very rural and don't have a family resource centre in the town, so our community services hub aims to provide essential services to residents, and also to ensure environmental concerns are at the heart of all we do,” says Jennie.

Last summer, for example, brought a Ballinamore Bunting workshop, teaching sewing skills and working together to create life-long bunting for events and festivals in the town. Jennie reflects on how events like these can spark the public’s interest and support the centre’s own mission.

“Participants who attended the workshop also asked for information on other social activities available, and from this a knitting group has started. It's all about connection, skill building and being welcoming.”

Jennie’s own personal interest in cycling has helped the centre to address barriers and allow others to get on the saddle. This includes teaching bike repair skills and ensuring people's bikes are in good working order. “It's great to bring my own knowledge and skills into the workplace,” she said.

“We find many of the people who use our services already believe in the circular economy, but haven't thought of it in those terms.”

One of the most important events of the year for the BACC is their uniform swap shop. The benefit of this event is new-to-them school uniforms for kids who are constantly growing.

They have received a positive response from parents, who enjoy the connections and relationship building at events like this.

As the community changes and grows, it’s important that the demands of new and old community members are met. While funding for the centre runs out shortly, this work has shown what can be achieved by bringing circularity into a much valued community hub.