Members of three youth organisations in the Rathmullen, Ballsgrove and Marley’s Lane areas of Drogheda joined forces Friday last to take part in a project to improve the environment in their area on the south side of Drogheda.
Under the bright summer sun, a group of enthusiastic and committed young individuals gathered with a shared goal: to clean up and revitalize their local area.
The three groups – St. Nicholas GFC, Ballsgrove Youth Group and Grove Rangers – have come together to work as a collaborative group named “Southside – Pride of Place”.
The project’s theme is “Clean, Create, Celebrate”. The first part of the project will focus on the young people and adult volunteers in the area taking part in Community Action Days where they will go out in group to clean up the locality.
The “Create” element of the project will allow the young people take the lead in workshops that will propose designs for street art to be located on the south side of town. “Celebrate” will recognise the efforts of the young people and present further opportunities for community leadership.
The clean-up initiative was not just about removing litter but also a chance for the young people to show their collective pride in their community. The young volunteers worked tirelessly, armed with gloves, litter pickers and rubbish bags. They cleared areas on Rathmullen Road, Marley’s Lane and Rathmullen Estate.
Leader of the Ballsgrove Youth Group, Chloe Kelly, shared her perspective on the event: “It’s inspiring to see how much impact a small group of young people can have. We are not just cleaning up the area; we’re showing that young people are willing to invest their time and effort in the community.”
The project is being support by the Small Grants Scheme of the Drogheda Implementation Board (https://droghedaimplementationboard.ie). The funding is central to the project roll out and will support several elements. There are a few exciting updates to be shared over the coming weeks and months. For more information about the Southside – Pride of Place project, check out the Facebook page.
Keep an eye out for further Community Action Day which volunteers are most welcome to attend and help out.
