There are not many places in Fermanagh where a 98-year-old and a 24-year-old are brought together as friends, but then again, there are not many groups like 'Girls Allowed'.

The group has been shortlisted for The Impartial Reporter’s Community Champion Awards, in association with Encirc, for the 'Community Champion of the Year (Group)' award, sponsored by Encirc.

The group is only in its infancy, but has been thriving in the Border village of Newtownbutler, with more than 100 members who meet in the community hall weekly.

Nicola McFrederick, a committee member, described how the group came about.

“We only started in September (2023), so we are a new group. The group was set up as there were a few of us out walking and we thought there was nothing really for ladies in the area.

“We organised a meeting and had 11 or 12 women turn up, and then we were supposed to only do it in one room, but our numbers were massive, so we ended up offering three activities each evening.”

Nicola explained that a variety of activities are offered by the group to suit all members.

"We usually have art activities upstairs; we have done watercolour and members are at acrylics at the minute.

"In the main hall, we will have an exercise class; we have done clubersize, yoga, hula hoops, and Zumba; members have also been out walking, and it has been flat-out.

“Then we have the social group. The youngest member is 24, and then the wisest of the group is 98 next week!

"We have had a cancer prevention talk, hygiene talk, 'Minute to Win It' games, and a make-up tutorial.

“It is bigger than we thought [the club would be]. There is a lot of work, there are a couple of bakers in the group, so all the activities come together at 8pm to have a tea break.

"The art participants will come down, the exercise participants will finish their class, and we have homemade traybakes, scones etc.”

Nicola praised the hard-working community and the members who make the group special.

“We have a good committee who work well together. We have 119 members; it is cross-community, and that is a big thing for us in Newtown.

“Last week, we had about 80 of the members. We had funding for a cross-Border programme with the ladies from Belturbet.

"We had them down for a launch and a lady, Alma, came and talked to us about fashion.

"It gives us a sense of achievement. One lady, who is retired, told one of the girls that it gives her a reason to get up in the morning, get dressed, and she knows the craic is going to be good, and it sets her up for the week."

 

Others shortlisted in the Community Champion of the Year (Group) award, sponsored by Encirc, include JustUs, Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) and The Kindness Postbox.