The Community Decision event for the Grand Choice participatory budgeting initiative in Downshire East is being held on Saturday 18 October 2025 from 11.00am to 3.00pm in Drumlough Presbyterian Church Hall, 5 Rafferty's Hill, Hillsborough, BT26 6QB.
Please come along and show your support and help the local groups achieve support for their ideas for Policing and Community Safety or Take 5 Ways to Wellbeing; Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, Give.
Members of the Downshire East community are invited to attend between 11am and 3pm to vote for the 10 community projects they would like to see receive funding. The projects you will hear more about on the day are detailed below. You need to be aged 8 or over to be eligible to vote.
Each of the projects will be exhibited during the event prior to the public casting their votes.
There is a total £15,000 available under Grand Choice.
Also available on the day will be representatives from various agencies to give advice and guidance to the local community on areas such as crime prevention, health and wellbeing and much, much more.
Grand Choice - Market Place - Meet the applicants
| Organisation |
Project |
| Belfast & Lisburn Women’s Aid |
Building futures beyond abuse |
| Carr Kids Wrap Around Club |
Circuits Club at Carr Primary School |
| Drumlough Pipe Band |
Improve Uniform Quality |
| Carr Primary School Sen Spin Unit |
Outdoor Equipment |
| Drumlough Community Association |
Community Notice Board |
| Dromara Local History Group |
Purchase Equipment for Group Activity |
| St John’s Parish Church, Dromara |
Senior Friends Christmas Dinner |
| Bailliesmills Accordion Band |
Tuition towards Excellence |
| Bailliesmills Juniors |
Kitted out and ready for anything |
| Dromara Village Football Youth Academy |
DVFC Youth Academy 2025 Equipment Refresh |
| Dromara Village Football Club |
Dromara Village Football Club Refresh |
| Drumlough VIP Club |
Reduce loneliness and boost health & wellbeing |
| Drumlough Committee |
Coffee Dock |
| Drumlough Table Tennis Club |
Purchase new equipment |
| Dromara Primary School PTA |
Outdoor learning |
| 358th Loughaghery Presbyterian Church Girls’ Brigade |
On the Farm Experience |
| Anahilt Primary School |
Assembly Hall Modernisation |
| St John’s Dromara Youth |
Christmas Celebration |
| Dromara Community Group |
Installation of a village bench |
| Anahilt & Magheraconluce Community Association |
Community Library |
| Anahilt Scout Group |
Roof repairs and purchasing equipment |
| Harry Ferguson Memorial Pipe Group |
Youth bagpipe and drum musical development |
| Anahilt Primary School PTA |
The thrive space |
| Ballymacbrennan Plough on Ground |
Addressing rural isolation & loneliness |
For further information please contact the PCSP Officers on 07771 345922 / 07442 990698.