BIG Lottery Closing Evaluation Event

Thursday 29 January 2015

There was a very positive evaluation event held last Saturday evening for the ending of the island’s BIG Lottery funded project. Hosted by Peter Osborne - formerly of the BIG Lottery and currently chair of the Community Relations Council – and with over forty island residents attending, the evaluation element of the evening was rounded off with a quiz, food and live traditional music.

The evaluation took the form of people being asked to respond to various questions and statements about the RDCA’s BIG Lottery-funded work over the last six years, and about priorities for the future. Responses were made via handheld devices that allowed instant and anonymous feedback to be given by residents. Responses to each question or statement were immediately presented on screen in chart form, allowing everyone present to get a very good grasp of how the group felt about the issues.

The event was held as part of the requirements of the RDCA’s receipt of the grant in the first place, and also as a way of bolstering future funding applications.

Among the items explored were the role of the Community Development Worker; the Resource Centre; the Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival; and about the RDCA’s priorities for the short and medium term future.

The feedback was very positive, and in particular recognised the important constructive impact that the BIG Lottery funding has had on Rathlin over the last few years.

Many thanks to all the island residents who took the time to come out on a cold evening, to Peter Osborne for his support of the RDCA’s work on the island, to McCuaig’s Bar for hosting the event, to the Water Shed Café for the food, and to Fergus McFaul and the other musicians.