The first new build on Belfast's Crumlin Road for thirty years will be opened tomorrow, Wednesday 5 November at 11.00am, when the doors of the £1.7m Vine Centre at 193 Crumlin Road will be officially opened by former Presbyterian Moderator Dr Russell Birney.
Originally founded in 1970 by the Presbyterian Church, the Vine is now a partnership between the Church, Belfast City Council, Department of Social Development, International Fund for Ireland, Department of Education, NI Housing Executive, Belfast Regeneration Office and Belfast Partnership Board.
The new building replaces several older buildings operated by the Vine in the area and brings all its community activities under one roof.
These include after schools clubs for primary school children, lunch clubs for senior citizens, a pregnancy advice service, youth programmes for 11 -17 year olds and a general advice centre for all citizens.
11 full time and 24 volunteer staff run the centre which is used by between 450-500 people weekly from all over North Belfast including Oldpark, Shankill, Crumlin, Ballysillan, New Lodge and Ardoyne.
'The opening of our new centre today marks a further step in the regeneration of what is Northern Ireland's most deprived ward,' says the Vine's Director and Presbyterian Deaconess Lynda Gibson. 'Through the centre we hope we can empower people to play a fuller part in their own development and that of the community.'
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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