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A unique partnership between 4 Christian organisations, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and a local community group will see the opening tomorrow, Friday 18 January, 10.00am at 14-16 Knockwood Park of a £70,000 community centre on the Clarawood Estate in the Orangefield area of East Belfast.
Orangefield and Kirkpatrick Memorial Presbyterian Churches, Belfast City Mission and the YMCA together with representatives from the Clarawood Estate formed the Oak Partnership in 1999 to find a way of practically addressing the social and economic problems existing within the 700 home estate.
'Clarawood is one of those areas, where, because it is surrounded by relative affluence the problems within it have been hidden,' says Sam Lamont, secretary of the Oak Partnership. 'Consequently it has not attracted the help and support it so obviously needs.'
Consultation within the community showed the need for a support and advice service for parents and children, an after schools programme, evening activities and a community based education programme.
Two disused shop units available on free long term lease from the Housing Executive in the centre of the estate provided the perfect location for the project and the renovation work started last September with funding coming from the partners in the Oak Trust along with the Halifax Building Society, BT, the Tudor Trust and the Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation.
'If our Christian faith means anything it is about practically showing Christ's love to those around us,' says Sam Lamont. 'Here in Clarawood we hope this new community centre will be a place of hope, equality and opportunity where people will be supported to reach their full social, spiritual and intellectual potential.'
Though being officially opened this Friday by Presbyterian Moderator Dr Alastair Dunlop in the presence of Belfast's Lord Mayor Cllr Jim Rogers the centre has been in use since the start of the year running a parent and toddler group in the morning, a Bible club on Wednesday afternoons and a youth drop in at night. At present these programmes are run by volunteers though both the Belfast Education and Library Board and the Training and Employment Agency have shown enthusiasm in providing programmes as required for the future.
'Many people in the estate have never seen these shops open before so already the project has made a noticeable change,' added Sam Lamont. 'It is creating a sense of progress, meeting the needs of people here and enabling lasting relationships to be built and strengthened within the community.'
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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