Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has been approached by the Reserve Forces’ & Cadets’ Association for Northern Ireland (RFCA NI) to make a bed available to the Defence Gardens Scheme.
The scheme works in partnership with veterans’ charities, military units, community mental health service providers and gardening projects to develop and deliver nature-based therapy for service leavers and veterans.
It is supported by the Northern Ireland (NI) Veterans Support Office and the NI Veterans Commissioner, Danny Kinahan, a former Ballyclare Ulster Unionist councillor. Those participating in the scheme will tend this bed and participate in gardening and maintenance.
RFCA NI is an independent, community-based organisation with the responsibility of advising and assisting the Defence Council on issues concerning 2,000 reservists and more than 3,500 cadets.
Antrim Alderman Paul Michael BEM, who is a council representative on the RFCA NI, told a meeting of the council’s Community Planning Committee on Monday evening that it was through this role that that the matter was…
