The seminar was organised by the Causeway Museum Service to celebrate the achievements of its Community Outreach Project, a three year programme supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The project was designed to bring museum skills out into the community and enable local communities to preserve, interpret and communicate their local heritage for themselves. Across the Causeway area, the Museum Service has built awareness of the breadth and diversity of local heritage, encouraged more people to get involved in their heritage, and encouraged groups to support each other through partnerships and networks.

The Causeway Museum Service represents a partnership between Coleraine, Ballymoney, Limavady and Moyle councils, who have all recognised the benefits of the Community Outreach Programme and gave their support to the event. Chair of Moyle District Council, Madeleine Black, said 'The Community Outreach Project has increased access and awareness to Ballycastle's unique heritage, increased community engagement with Ballycastle Museum, including local schools, and has greatly enhanced the museum's collections. The project has also been nominated for a Nationwide Community and Heritage Award.'

The Engaging Your Community Seminar attracted over one hundred delegates from national and local museums across the UK and Ireland. They took part in a number of training workshops and a programme of public tours of community-led projects across the Causeway Area. One delegate said 'I was really inspired by the enthusiasm and achievements of the community groups. It was also great to visit a new area and see such high quality community work happening away from the major cities.'

The three year Community Outreach Project comes to an end this summer, but the Causeway Museum Service will continue to work in partnership with local communities on a variety of heritage projects. Community Outreach Officer, Gemma Reid, said 'Our communities have achieved an incredible amount over the last three years, but we know this has been only the start of the journey. We will continue to support the groups we have been working with, but we are keen to engage with new groups and find out how we can help them preserve and celebrate their heritage'.

If you would like to find out more about the Causeway Museum Service Community Outreach Programme, contact Gemma on (028) 7034 7235 or gemma.reid@colerainebc.gov.uk.