A new group has been set up in the Desertmartin area to help improve community life.

Slievegallion Community and Sports Development Group, which was founded in November last year, is made up of volunteers with a like-minded vision of improving the area and utilising the support of the local bodies.

The group’s main aims will be to address all areas of community life, including housing, jobs, infrastructure and health issues.

The group also intends to work with all local bodies and welcomes all input from any areas within the community.

Chairman Eddie Cuskeran said: “Our initial goal is to provide a wider range of sporting activities for our young people, in order to do so we will be working closely with the local schools enhancing their existing sports programme.

“Common problems in all community areas such as drug and alcohol abuse, and anti-social behaviour are also issues we will try to address.

“As with any project of this nature, its success depends on the inclusion of the whole community, and we would ask all sections to interact so that we can provide the best possible future for everyone in the locality.”

Eddie added that the level of ability and the enthusiasm within the group, along with input and cooperation from the local bodies, should certainly make a difference within the community.

“We will put emphasis, initially on developing more sporting opportunities for the youth in the area by introducing taster sessions of various activities, and identifying the most popular with the intentions of further development in those disciplines.

“While the feedback from the relevant bodies has been good, the success of the Slievegallions Community and Sports Development Group will depend on the support of the entire community,” he added.