NNCG, YOUR COMMUNITY MARKET
At the Heart of the Community.
NNCG has been in operation since 2012, and was formerly known as 'Ballycastle Town Market'.
As a not for profit charitable organisation we deliver an award winning community artisan and general markets in the Causeway Coast and Glens area and wider.
We work to revitalise rural and urban areas in Northern Ireland, especially the Causeway Coast and Glens, by using local markets as community hubs. These markets bring people together, support local producers and small businesses, and foster a sense of community. Through events and activities, we aim to reduce loneliness and build safer, friendlier communities. We also provide support and training to help individuals and businesses thrive, promoting self-employment and sustainable development.
OUR OBJECTIVES
The promotion, for the benefit of the public, of rural or urban regeneration and community development in areas of economic, physical and social deprivation in Northern Ireland and in particular the Causeway Coast and Glens area by all or any of the following means:
a) the creation of spaces and community-building events and activities designed to bring people together and increase social interaction, contributing to community development by fostering a sense of community and reducing loneliness which results in a safer, more stable and cohesive community;
b) the provision and delivery of local markets and events providing market stalls on favourable terms, which bring together individuals, local producers and small businesses and provide them with a platform to showcase and sell their products and skills and enable the community to access local produce
c) the provision of services, support and opportunities including mentorship to individuals and small businesses to start and develop their businesses which will increase self-employment, support small business start-ups and promote sustainable development, personal development, positive mental health;
d) the advancement of education, training or retraining particularly among young people, those experiencing hardship and disadvantage, aimed at empowering individuals and small businesses and equipping them with the knowledge, skills and confidence for successful entrepreneurship to advance their vocational skills and employability;
e) the relief of hardship, poverty or unemployment through the creation of self employment opportunities, training and work experience leading to reduced poverty, unemployment and improved wellbeing;
f) advancement of the arts, culture, heritage, craft and craftmanship encouraging high standards and providing opportunities to showcase arts, craft and heritage at local markets and events to the general public;
g) promotion of local agriculture, horticulture and sustainable food that is good for the climate, nature and health;
WHAT WE DO!
MARKETS/EVENTS
We deliver artisan markets & events throughout NI. Many of our markets are independent, and some are delivered as an attraction at larger events throughout the region. We offer a unique platform for local people to start up, develop businesses, showcase their products and become self sufficient. We work with members and casual traders, community representatives, local authorities and more.
TOURING MARKETS
We understand the time and finance involved in organising markets to support local community events or to add an attraction to a town event.
We can bring our popular market to your town or event and reduce the workload for your team. Our market has a strong following, holds an excellent reputation with the traders we work with and has a good reputation for the high standard of unique and quirky products sold by our traders - it's always an attraction at any event.
We manage the market from start to finish, working with you along the way to ensure the market we provide complements your area and event. In essence we cover, what needs to be done and when, both leading up to and during the event to ensure a successful delivery and a positive outcome for all parties involved. We can deliver our own market or work with you to deliver a specific market that suits your needs.
Hiring our market to attend your event costs from £1000. Please contact us to discuss your requirements and to receive a quote.
CASUAL TRADING
We work closely with our traders aiming to ensure that our markets meet their needs. As a not for profit organisation we are driven not by profits but ensuring the market works for the traders that use it and the local community. As a result our traders often tell us that our market is their ‘favourite market’.
We always welcome new and talented traders that can provide something unique at our markets, please check out the trading information on the website and send in a casual trading application if you feel you can meet the trading criteria and standard we expect.
YOUTH TRADING OPPORTUNITIES
Our youth trading pitches offer the perfect opportunity for young entrepreneurs with a skill or talent to start up their own business. We provide a reduced fee platform for young traders to help develop and hone their entrepreneurial skills , try out a new a business idea and sell their own creative products.
If you’re a young entrepreneur or represent a local school, college or youth organisation and would like to explore the possibilities of using the youth trading pitches, please get in touch to discuss your requirements further.
COMMUNITY/CHARITY PITCHES
Community groups, charities that deliver their services locally and not for profit organisations are encouraged to use our reduced price community pitches and get involved in a creative way.
We offer them a platform to showcase themselves to the wider community, raise awareness, and fund-raise. This provides a unique local feel and sense of pride, as well as valuable exposure, there is no promotion better than getting out there and talking to local people about your cause. Community/charity pitches are available at no cost to those that meet the eligibility criteria*, with a £5 charge for canopy hire if required.
Due to the high demand for our community pitches we try and rotate the charities showcased. Priority is shown to those that have not recieved a chance to showcase during any given year, and not for profits delivering services on the ground in and for the local area where the market is based.
Community/charity pitches aren’t permitted to sell goods, the pitches are designed ot help promote the group, raise awareness, recruit volunteers and fundraise through raffles or promoting upcoming fundraisers, if you’d like to sell goods you should apply to trade as a casual trader.
If you’re interested in bringing your community/charity stall to our markets or would like more information please get in touch.
*Contact us for eligibility criteria
TRADER SUPPORT
We don’t just deliver great markets for visitors to enjoy, we also provide our artisan producers with services, support, training and opportunities to build their businesses and to contribute to local economic, tourism and community development and help improve the quality of life within our communities.
If you are new to trading or need support or advice contact us - we are here to help.
SEASONS OF THE GLENS POP UP FARM SHOP
Seasons of the Glens, kindly funded by the Rank Foundation profit for good programme in 2019, has an aim to help us achieve the Naturally North Coast & Glens C.I.C Social Mission. It is a pop up farm shop which travels from market to market bringing local produce to local communities and providing a platform for local growers, farmers, makers and producers to sell their produce to the public.
All profits from the farm shop go towards meeting our mission in supporting small businesses and revitalising urban and rural towns through the delivery of artisan markets.
Public support for local artisan producers, farmers and makers continues to grow and we’d like to think we’re playing our part in that process.
We aim to
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Support local communities, businesses, families and individuals,
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Provide fresh seasonal produce,
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Increase awareness of where our food comes from,
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Reduce food miles and in turn our carbon footprint,
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Focus on supplying quality products and a first-class service.
We want to see communities reach out, share, rediscover food ideas and make best use of what’s available season by season and learn about real food culture. You can view the farm shop HERE
DEVILS CHURN CARAMEL SAUCES
The Farm Shop has developed it's own product Range 'Devils Churn Caramel Sauces',
Launched in May 2021 we wanted to create a luxurious product which helps us achieve the Naturally North Coast & Glens C.I.C Mission. One that uses Northern Irish Ingredients, and that would be the perfect partner for indulgent desserts like apple crumble, brownies, banoffee pie, and cheesecake.
Plus - we have a really sweet tooth, and love caramel sauce!
You can find out more about Devils Churn HERE
ARTISAN MARKET ONLINE
Due to Covid-19 in 2019 we were unable to hold our popular award winning Naturally North Coast & Glens Markets, so developed the online marketplace for Northern Irelands best artisan and creative micro businesses to help showcase, and sell their products to a wider audience.
The online store was a great success and will continue to operate on an ongoing basis!
You can view the Artisan Market Online HERE
SOCIAL BENEFITS
We have built a successful schedule of well managed and attended annual markets built initially through volunteer effort and through partnership approaches in the community which has increased the employment levels in the area and helped new businesses start up. This has developed into success of high quality, professionally managed markets which contributes to the development of the local economy, towns, events, community cohesion, and also promotes health and well-being ensuring that our events contribute to the ‘life’ of the community.
We work with two ‘communities’ our internal trading community, and the wider local community, both of which have different needs.
We provide an exciting, unique market that brings people together as a community. It encourages more people to visit their town and rediscover the many things it has to offer. The market is also a very useful tool for encouraging social interaction particularly between rural and urban communities.
The Market is a place where our visitors can connect and interact with the specialists, meet friends, be introduced to new ideas enjoy their town to the full. Markets also act as an important “third place” or gathering space in our local community, they also provide an important supportive community to our internal community, and we have identified the potential and demand to cultivate and develop a different kind of connection among the individuals in both communities.
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Towns as we knew them have changed considerably over recent years. Our aim has been to help revitalise, add a new dimension and inject the buzz and effervescence back into the community, increase footfall and encourage people to visit their towns.
People now demand so much more, they want an experience, authenticity, customer service, and they want choice and knowledge, character and diversity.
By delivering the Artisan Market to towns and community events across the area we are fulfilling all of these demands, and helping to reinvigorate the towns we live in and encourage economic growth and tourism in the area.
Our events have a warmth about them: they increase visitor numbers to the town: they improve the dwell time spent within the town: they showcase what the town has to offer and ultimately we provide an exceptional day out for our visitors.
The platform and support we provide to our traders helps them start and develop their business, helps increase confidence and entrepreneurial skills, providing local makers the opportunity to become self employed.
We strive to source the very finest local artisan traders and products to deliver a high quality and heterogeneous mix for our visitors. This offer complements rather than competes with the high street retailers providing a synergistic environment.
By buying locally sourced goods, and supporting small independent businesses in our towns and at local markets, everyone can contribute to local economic development by increasing employment, encouraging consumers to support local business, and thus keeping the money within the local community.
MEMBERSHIP
Contributing to a good local market as a member of NNCG means committing to contribute to its development, success and sustainability.
At the heart of our organisation is our members, they work with us to help deliver the fantastic markets and events you visit. They have created a dynamic and creative community, always supportive of each other's successes and eager to help and collaborate with one another whenever possible. Our members work together to provide the vibrant and dynamic market you may have visited or heard about. We promote a strong team ethos, and all our members contribute in their own way to help develop and support the market. The members form a strong supportive community, and many have found this network invaluable.
We offer trading opportunities to both members and casual traders. You do not have to be a member of NNCG to trade with us. If you would like to get more involved in building a sustainable market and contributing towards its success, please get in touch to find out more about membership.