COAST Intergenerational Fundraiser

Press Release 25 August 2021

Radius Housing have teamed up with COAST (Causeway Older Active Strategy Team) to raise vital funds for this local charity through an intergenerational fundraising walk/run on Friday 20 August along the scenic Causeway Coast area. We are delighted to announce that almost £3,000 has been raised to date.

COAST is an inter-agency partnership which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of those aged over 60 in the Causeway Coast and Glens area. COAST provide many practical services to Radius tenants and Floating Support service users, through their home safety checks and key pad installation.  This service has greatly assisted in providing tenants and service users with crucial reassurance, particularly those living on their own.

The challenge was a walk/run from Rathain Fold in Coleraine to Skerries Fold in Portstewart passing by Tullaghmurray Fold in Portstewart (for refreshments) – a distance of 10 miles. All those involved were rewarded with a warm welcome and a BBQ organized at Skerries Fold.

Tenants from Radius Sheltered Housing Schemes contributed to hampers that were raffled off to raise funds.

The event brought together Radius Staff, Floating Support service users, Tenants from Rathain, Tullaghmurray and Skerries Fold with local residents (including those from Portstewart Community Association and new tenants from Cappagh Green).  The event provided a great opportunity to build relations and promote awareness of Radius Cappagh Green general family housing scheme as a Shared Housing development.

Speaking at event Claire Sheilds, Causeway Floating Support Team, said

‘It’s great that we have this opportunity to help by bringing the community back together after so long and for such a worthwhile event to raise funds for COAST who we have worked in partnership with in the delivery of support services to the over 60s in the causeway coast and glens area.’

Tori Calderwood, COAST Project Manager commented;

‘Causeway Older Active Strategic Team (COAST) are delighted to be receiving this fantastic opportunity from Claire and the team at Radius Housing to help support the ongoing work of COAST and being the voice of our older people across the Causeway Coast and Glens. We would like to thank everyone involved from planning the event to walking 10 mile of the Coast and completing a skydive. After such a challenging time it is great to see the Community coming together to support one another and build on a positive future.’ 

One floating support service user expressed the help that COAST has made to their life: -“

“Floating support has helped me so much in the past year, I appreciate the morning calls and benefited from referrals that have been made from Radius floating support on my behalf. It’s so great to have the visits back from my support worker after such a trying time .

This event was supported through the Department for Communities ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme, which has its origins in the NI Executive  Together Building a United Community Strategy. The Department for Communities has invested £6,535,399 in the Cappagh Green Shared Housing development. 

Radius has shared housing developments across Northern Ireland. Inclusive Bridging events in the wider community encourage a range of good relations outcomes which involve Health & Wellbeing and Education & Training.

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ENDS

Further information:

Claire Sheilds

Floating Support Team

07468 860404

claire.sheilds@radiushousing.org