The Woodvale community wellbeing service in Ballymena has been supporting people throughout North Antrim for the last 50 years.
Following a wide-ranging fundraising campaign, along with a year-long closure to allow for a much-needed revamp, the transformed premises are, once again, open and ready to work. The building is now set to fulfil a key project objective, namely the creation of a multi-purpose hub, accessible to everyone in Ballymena and beyond.
During the event – which welcomed Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Mayor Jackson Minford, Inspire members and staff, and local stakeholders – attendees toured the building and heard more about our plans to establish the service as an indispensable, sustainable and future-focused community resource.
Woodvale manager Lesley-Ann Beckett said:
“Our open day offers us the chance to recognise the excellent work that Woodvale community wellbeing service has done for the last 50 years and celebrate this new beginning. The centre has long provided a safe, therapeutic environment for adults living with mental health and addictions issues. Our group work sessions help them to develop the tools that they need to manage symptoms, cultivate new skills and make connections.
“It is essential that the service continues to grow. We want to foster community links, ensuring that a holistic approach is a core element of this new hub. I look forward to working with existing and new stakeholders in the coming months, in order to place Woodvale at the heart of local life for many years to come.”
Inspire’s Group Director of Mental Health Services, Alex Bunting, said:
“I’m proud to mark the opening of the newly refurbished Woodvale. This centre has a long and valued history of supporting individuals affected by mental health challenges and its renewal reflects our deep commitment to the community we serve.
“The updated space is more than bricks and mortar. It’s a symbol of hope, resilience and progress. We look forward to continuing our mission of ‘Wellbeing for All’ by delivering compassionate, person-centred care and vital support to those who need it most, now and in the years ahead.”
Michelle, a Woodvale member, said:
“For me, Woodvale is a place where I feel invited, supported and encouraged. It is also a place that I can feel safe, secure and myself. On the low, hard and lonely days, you can rest assured that there will be someone there to chat with you, sit with you in silence and encourage you to keep going. I never actually felt supported, listened to or understood until I came to this service.”
Mayor Minford said:
“It has been a privilege to join Inspire to celebrate the opening of this important community service at Woodvale and the work it has been delivering for over five decades.
“The significance of the work delivered at this site, the dedication of the staff, the impact they have had on so many lives and, indeed, the challenges faced by those who avail of this lifeline, cannot be underestimated.
“Every moment of compassion, every listening ear and every ounce of patience plants a seed of hope in those attending Inspire, and in their families and friends too. Healing is not linear and recovery is not a destination. It’s a journey of courage, one step at a time. Inspire helps guide and support people every step of the way.”
A collection of images from the open day is available in the gallery below. Be sure to check them out.
