Physical activity and leisure
Allotment / Gardening Projects – MUDC
Examples of Community gardens / allotments can be found at Parkview, Castledawson; The Loup Women’s Group, The Old School, Loup; Carntogher Community Allotments, Drumnaph, Maghera; Moneymore Heritage Trust (behind Manor House) Main Street, Moneymore; and Toome Community Gardens, Toome
www.midulstercouncil.org/Allotments
An Creagan Green Gym, Creagan; Castledawson Community Allotments, Lilac Cancer & MU Women’s Aid & SVP Cookstown; Men’s Shed, Draperstown, Garvagh People’s Forest, Garvagh; Lissan House; The Loup Women’s Group, Loup; Ballinderry River Enhancement Assoication (BREA), Orritor; Drumnaph Nature Reserve, Maghera; Walled Garden, Maghera; Springhill, Moneymore; Parkview & The RowanTree Centre, Pomeroy and TIDAL in Toome are examples of community gardening/environmental projects.
Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens
We are a registered charity which supports, represents and promotes community-managed farms, gardens, allotments and other green spaces, creating opportunities for local communities to grow.
We have had a staff member in Northern Ireland since 2011, and since then we have worked with many of the new and established community growing projects in Northern Ireland. We are involved in several ongoing projects:
Our Growing Resilience programme aims to increase social capital and resilience in the community growing sector.
The Outdoor Wellbeing Network for Northern Ireland helps to develop and promote green care in Northern Ireland.
The Growing Together programme helps unlocked income, land and skills for community growing groups to help them become more financially self-sustaining and less dependent on grant funding
Northern Ireland Development Coordinator – Patricia Wallace
Email: patricia@farmgarden.org.uk
Growing Resilience Project Officer – Miriam Turley
Tel: 077 2569 9442
Email: miriam@farmgarden.org.uk
www.farmgarden.org.uk/your-area/northern-ireland
Groundwork NI
63-75 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast BT15 2GB
Tel: 028 9074 9494
Email: info@groundworkni.co.uk
Volunteers Contact: David Mallon
Tel: 028 9074 9494
Email: davidmallon@groundworkni.co.uk
www.groundwork.org.uk Facebook: @GroundworkNI Twitter: @GroundworkNI
Grow Wild
Bringing people together to transform local spaces by sowing, growing & enjoying native wildflowers plants and/or fungi. Do you want to Grow Wild in Northern Ireland?
Get in touch to discuss engagement ideas and our network of youth and community projects
Stéphanie Baine – Northern Ireland Engagement Manager
Tel: 079 2047 7553
Email: s.baine@kew.org
www.growwilduk.com Facebook: @GrowWildUK Twitter: @GrowWildUK
Beech House, 159 Ravenhill Road, Belfast BT60BP
Tel: 028 9064 5169
Email: k.holohan@tcv.org.uk
www.tcv.org.uk/northernireland/conservation-action-teams
Health and Communities: Helen Tomb
Email: h.tomb@tcv.org.uk
www.tcv.org.uk/northernireland/community
The Woodland Trust Northern Ireland, 1 Dufferin Court, Bangor Co. Down BT20 3BX
Tel: 028 9127 5787
Email: northernireland@woodlandtrust.org.uk
Vegetarian For Life
VfL is a UK charity supporting older vegans and vegetarians. We run a pen and phone pal scheme, a monthly virtual lunch club, virtual cookery demos and courses for community groups. Check out our website for recipes and numerous publications including cooking for one, vegan baking and our vegan rescue pack.
For more information go to www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk
Contact: info@vegetarianforlife.org.uk or call 0161 257 0887
Arts & Culture
Getting involved in arts and culture is a way for you to learn and express yourself creatively, also allowing you to take part in and shape the culture around you.
Getting involved – Be it painting, making music, dance, literature or any of the wide range of activities available in Northern Ireland – taking part in the arts can be relaxing, exciting and rewarding.
There are a number of ways to get involved in arts and culture. There will be an arts officer in your local council (03000 132 132) or you can contact The Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Location: 1 The Sidings, Antrim Road, Lisburn BT28 3AJ
Tel: 028 9262 3555
Email: info@artscouncil-ni.org
www.artscouncil-ni.org
Computers and Internet
Go ON NI
Provider: Government
Go ON NI is a government initiative which introduces digital technology to people who aren’t familiar with going online and supports beginners who want to improve their online skills.
Go ON NI highlights the benefits of being online. It brings together all the wonderful initiatives, places and tools to help and encourage off-liners to become internet beginners.
If you’re new to computers and the internet or want to continue learning
www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/go-ni/discover-internet
Go ON NI events are free and take place in libraries, community centres and various venues across NI. These are informal technology awareness sessions to help you go online for the first time, improve your digital skills and show you more about using smartphone and tablet devices.
www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/go-ni-events
Find a Centre
Search for an Online Centre near you. For best results use your full postcode. You can use the tick boxes in the right column to narrow down your centre search and find the information you are looking for.
www.onlinecentresnetwork.org/ournetwork/find-centre#/map
‘Go ON NI library’ free events
Admission is free but you must book a place if you would like to take part.
To book, contact Libraries NI Customer Support on 0345 450 4580 or email: enquiries@librariesni.org.uk or phone your local library.
Enterprise Shared Services, Department of Finance, Digital Transformation Service, Level 7, Goodwood House, May Street, Belfast BT1 4NN
Tel: 028 9025 4741
Email: future@finance-ni.gov.uk
www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/contacts-az/go-ni-digital-initiative
Helping Older People get Online & Stay Online
Provided by: Advice NI
Supporting active engagement, this Big Lottery funded project aims to help older people get online through the use of tablets. This is being provided to Older People Living in Sheltered Accommodation over a period of 10-12 weeks and includes a benefit check. It has a specific focus on helping people access information about their rights and entitlements and is unique in that it utilises volunteers to empower elder people with their digital experience.
Tel: 028 9064 5919
Email: sarah@adviceni.net
There may be other courses are available in community venues. Contact Community Navigator for more details.
Libraries NI
Libraries NI is the public library service for Northern Ireland. We aim to provide and promote a range of high quality library and information services for everyone in Northern Ireland and meeting room spaces.
(Tea & Papers, knit & natter, free ipad training, free e-books)
Cookstown: 028 8676 3702
Email: cookstown.library@librariesni.org.uk
Coalisland: 028 8774 0569
Email: coalisland.library@librariesni.org.uk
Draperstown: 028 7962 8249
Email: draperstown.library@librariesni.org.uk
Dungannon: 028 8772 2952
Email: dungannon.library@librariesni.org.uk
Maghera: 028 7964 2578
Email: maghera.library@librariesni.org.uk
Magherafelt: 028 7963 2278
Email: Magherafelt.library@librariesni.org.uk
Read Yourself Well
Read Yourself Well is an initiative developed by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Health and Social Care Board, The Public Health Agency and Libraries NI. It is based on a scheme called Read Well Books on Prescription developed by the Reading Agency and the Society of Chief Librarians. The trust has funded the purchase of health books with the aim to help people understand and manage their health and wellbeing using self-help reading. The initiative is a partnership contribution to community planning.
These books are currently on shelves in Carrickfergus, Ballycastle, Antrim and Maghera libraries. However they are available for request – just log in with your membership number and pin to have a book delivered to your local library (small charge of 50 pence applies).
Topics include:
Addiction, Allergies, Anxiety, Arthritis and osteoporosis, autism and Asperger Syndrome, Back Trauma, Bladder, Breathing difficulties, Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chest Conditions, Dementia, Depression, Diabetes, Down’s Syndrome, Dyslexia, Ear Conditions, Eating Disorders, Epilepsy, Fatigue, General, Grief, Headache and Migraine, Hiatus Hernia, Huntington Disease, Liver Conditions, Mental Illness, Multiple Sclerosis, Pain, Parkinson’s Disease, Self-esteem, Skin Conditions, Sleep, Stomach Disorders, Stroke and Heart Disease, Thyroid Conditions, Tourette Syndrome, Weight, Womens’ health, Young People’s Mental Health
Customer Support Line – 0345 450 4580
Monday – Thursday: 9:00am – 8:00pm; Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pm;
Saturday 10:00am – 4:00pm
Email: enquiries@librariesni.org.uk
www.librariesni.org.uk Facebook: @LibrariesNorthernIreland
Mid Ulster Athletics Club – Magherafelt
Provider: Independent
Provides Conditioning Training, Cross Country, Road Running, Mountain Racing, Indoor Athletics etc
Location: Meadowbank Indoor Sports Arena, Ballyronan Road, Magherafelt BT45
Tel: 028 7963 2075 (Barrie Holmes) or 028 7938 6671 (Paddy Downey)
Email: barrieholmes2000@yahoo.com
Mid Ulster District Council Leisure Facilities
The Leisure Centres hosts classes suitable for all ages including those with limited mobility. Get in touch to find out timetable and class information. The Mid Ulster District offers a wealth of leisure pursuits and sport activities for every sports enthusiast. Whether you’d like to gently improve your health or set yourself a challenge to get fit, there’s something to suit everyone at one of Mid Ulster’s indoor and outdoor leisure facilities.
78 Fountain Road, Cookstown, BT80 8QF
Tel: 028 8676 3853
Greenvale Leisure Centre
Greenvale Park, Magherafelt BT45 6DR
Tel: 028 7963 2796
Maghera Leisure Centre
Coleraine Road, Maghera BT46 5BN
Tel: 028 7954 7400
Mid Ulster Sports Arena
Tullywigan Road, Cookstown BT80 8SD
Tel: 028 8676 7135
Moneymore Recreation Centre
Moneyhaw Road, Moneymore BT45 7XJ
Tel: 028 8674 7974
Meadowbank Sports Arena
Ballyronan Road, Magherafelt BT45 6EH
Tel: 028 7939 7117
Tobermore Golf Centre
Maghera Road, Tobermore, BT45 5QB
Tel: 028 7939 7939
Email: info@midulstercouncil.org
www.midulstercouncil.org/Things-To-Do/Sport-Leisure
Whether you want to be on the water, on the green, on the hillside or shoreside, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to outdoor activity in Mid Ulster!
Adventure at Todd’s Leap or The Jungle NI, Bowling, Cycling (Lough Fea, Loughshore Trail, Moyola, Slieve Gallion or Swatragh Cycle routes), Fishing in Moyola or Ballinderry rivers, Golf in Magherafelt, Castledawson and Cookstown, Horse-riding, Mountain Biking at Davagh, Park Runs, Running Groups, Tennis in Cookstown; Walking, and Watersports at Ballyonan Marina.
Tel: 03000 132 132
www.midulstercouncil.org/Things-To-Do/Sport-Leisure/Outdoor-Leisure
Find out about a range of activities including: Adventure Racing, Archery, Blokarting, Boat Charter & Cruising, Boat Trips, Bushcraft, Canoeing, Caving, Clay Pigeon Shooting, Climbing, Coasteering & Bouldering, Cycling, Diving, Dry Slope Skiing, Fell Running, Fishing, Gliding, Hang-gliding & Paragliding, High Ropes & Zip Lines, Horse Riding, Hovercrafting, Kitesurfing, Microlight Flying, Model Flying, Mountain Biking, Orienteering, Paintballing & Combat, Rally & Off Road 4×4 Schools, Sailing, Segway, Skydiving & Parachuting, Stand Up Paddle boarding, Surfing, Walking, Water Park, Waterski & Wakeboard, Windsurfing and Zorbing.
Find a local club: Canoeing, Climbing, Cycling, Mountain Biking, Orienteering or Walking
www.outdoorni.com/local-outdoors
www.discovernorthernireland.com
Stepping Towards Enhanced Postural Stability (STEPS Falls Prevention)
Provider: Northern Health and Social Care Trust
STEPS is a 16 week exercise and education programme. It is designed to help prevent falls and fractures and promote independent living. The programme is available to adults over 55 years of age. General Practitioners and any trust health and social care professional can make referrals.
Cookstown Day Centre: Tel: 028 8672 3900
Marie.Woods@northerntrust.hscni.net
Maghera Day Centre: Tel: 028 7964 3360
George.Weir@northerntrust.hscni.net
Magherafelt Day Centre: Tel: 028 7936 5060
Eileen.Doyle@northerntrust.hscni.net
The Sperrin Mountains, stretching along the border of counties Tyrone and Derry, can best be described as wild, untouched and beautiful. Spanning 40 miles, the Sperrins mountain range is the largest in Ireland. Walkers can expect undulating hills covered in heather, quiet valleys, boggy uplands and a land teeming with wildlife. There are 10 summits above 500m with the highest of the range, Sawel Mountain, peaking at 678m (2,224ft).
Clooney Rural Development Association Walking Club
Walking club meets every Monday at 10.45am in the car park in Ahoghill. Walks are mainly local and last between 45-60 minutes. Occasionally we hire a minibus to go to more distant places, either coastal or woodland, for walks.
Walks are open to all levels of fitness. New members are welcome. Simply turn up on the day or contact the Community Navigator for more information.
Drumnaph Nature Reserve Walking Trails, Maghera
www.drumnaph.org/en/walking-trails
Dungannon Rambling Club
Walks arranged twice monthly and available in three grades to suit all fitness levels.
May to August (inc) walks are arranged on Wednesday evenings, these are short grade C walks.
Contact: Eunice Shaw, Cookstown Contact the Community Navigator for more information.
Mid Ulster Walking Club
Individuals can avail of up to three walks before they will be expected to join the club.
Area Covered – Dungannon, Cookstown & Magherafelt although we welcome walkers/members from any area.
www.midulsterwalkingclub.org.uk
NI Walking Photography Club
NI Walking Photography Group is aimed at people who enjoy walking and photography, also anyone who enjoys walking at a slower pace is welcomed to join us, camera equipment not necessary.
Walks are 1 to 3 times per month mostly on Saturdays and occasionally on Sundays.
Difficulty is easy to moderate, walks are mainly in the Mournes, Antrim Glens, Sperrins and the North Coast.
www.niwalkingphotographygroup.co.uk
Sperrins Hillwalking Club
Organised club walks take place twice monthly. Grade 1 walks for the fitter walker alternate with Grade 3 walks for those who prefer a more leisurely stroll. We also from time to time have Grade 2 walks – something in between!
Sperrin Hillwalking Club, PO Box 45, Cookstown, BT80 8YU
Tel: 028 9034 7011
Email: info@sperrins.co.uk
Walking for Health Group
This group meets weekly and is led by trained walk leaders. For more information on dates and walking routes contact Mid Ulster Council. Walk routes include Ballyronan Wood, Cantogher History Trail, Davagh Forest, Drumcairne Wood, Dunamore Riverside, Gort Moss, Highway to Health in Magherafelt, Lough Fea, Moneymore Heritage Trail, Springhill House, Pomeroy Forest etc.
Tel: 03000 1132 132
www.midulstercouncil.org/Things-To-Do/Sport-Leisure/Outdoor-Leisure/Walking
Clooney Rural Development Association Walking Club
Walking club meets every Monday at 10.45am in the car park in Ahoghill. Walks are mainly local and last between 45-60 minutes. Occasionally we hire a minibus to go to more distant places, either coastal or woodland, for walks.
Walks are open to all levels of fitness. New members are welcome. Simply turn up on the day or contact the Community Navigator for more information.
Drumnaph Nature Reserve Walking Trails, Maghera
www.drumnaph.org/en/walking-trails
Dungannon Rambling Club
Walks arranged twice monthly and available in three grades to suit all fitness levels.
May to August (inc) walks are arranged on Wednesday evenings, these are short grade C walks.
Contact: Eunice Shaw, Cookstown Contact the Community Navigator for more information.
Mid Ulster Walking Club
Individuals can avail of up to three walks before they will be expected to join the club.
Area Covered – Dungannon, Cookstown & Magherafelt although we welcome walkers/members from any area.
www.midulsterwalkingclub.org.uk
There are various ongoing or adhoc physical and leisure activities in local community and council venues. For more information on activities in your local area, please contact Anita Kelly, Locality Community Navigator: Tel: 078 1419 6935 or Email: communitynavigator.mu@ageni.org
This list is intended to act as a guide to support services available for people living in Mid Ulster Locality area. Inclusion is not exhaustive and does not necessarily constitute or imply any endorsement or recommendation of that organisation or service.
If you are aware of organisations/community groups that would like to be included in this directory (free of charge), please contact the community navigator.
- Follow the Northern Trust
