County Down Rural Community Network
Helping Communities Help Themselves
About CDRCN
County Down Rural Community Network is an umbrella body representing and working with over 400 community-based groups across much of Ards, North Down, Down and South Armagh.
Our Services
County Down Rural Community Network works to address rural poverty and disadvantage, tackle health inequalities, build positive relationships and local capacity, and promote rural regeneration, inclusivity, and accessibility.
Community Development Support
County Down Rural Community Network works with local people at grassroots level in their own communities.
CDRCN offers support through information, capacity building and practical assistance to equip individuals and groups of people with the tools they need to take collective action, empowering them to make positive change within their communities.
Community
Health & Wellbeing
County Down Rural Community Network promotes community health development across the Ards Peninsula and the legacy Down District Council area through a range of programmes and targeted supports.
CDRCN works to create the conditions for individuals and communities to take control of their own lives, addressing health inequalities and helping people to improve their health and wellbeing.
Activities
& Training
Calendar
County Down Rural Community Network provides training, advice, guidance and practical support to communities and member groups.
Our Impact
2024 – 2025
- £400K Micro Grants to 300 small rural groups
- 120 agencies working in partnership
- £900k of grant aid secured for 55 voluntary organisations
- 406 members of voluntary organisations directly supported
- 27 training courses, 532 participants
- 60 events, 5500 attendees
Become a Member of CDRCN
Membership of County Down Rural Community Network is FREE and open to all community-based organisations in the Council areas of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, and Ards and North Down Borough Council.
Latest News
Today CDRCN supported Portaferry Community Collective to begin their reminiscence workshops to record local memories of Joseph Tomelty. This project is a forerunner to the planned Joesph Tomelty Festival to be held from 5th to 7th March 2027.
What we loved about this on International Rural Women Day, is not only that women show up to lead, in this case Allison Murphy from PAST but that mostly women engaged to contribute to a future publication of Portaferry Memories of Joseph Tomelty, an actor, novelist and Playright, creator of BBC NI radio drama The McCooeys, originally from Portaferry. We thank all those women (and men) who came along today.
PCC obtained funding for this project from Sir George Earle Benevolent Fund through Community Foundation NI and thank you to them.
#InternationalRuralWomenDay
#communityfoundationni ...
Food Fusion Festival!
Discover food, culture and friendship through shared experiences
Starting November 2026
Ballymote Centre
Sign up by emailing admin@artsekta.org.uk
@followers ...
Today on International Day of Rural Women, CDRCN would like to celebrate and thank all those amazing Rural Women in our communities who step up and engage to make change happen for the people in their areas. Your passion and initiative is an inspiration to us all and we are so privileged to find so many women who volunteer for their community in both small and big ways, you have our utmost respect and appreciation for all that you do.
Finally we couldn't finish off without paying tribute to our fantastic female staff and board members, thank you all.
#RuralWomensDay
#daera
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