Project Directory - Project Entry

CCRU home background on CCRU community relations equality and equity research

Project Title:NICHS: Provision of an Interdenominational Youth Club
Contact Name:Jacqueline Chalk
Address:NI Children's Holiday Scheme
547 Antrim Road
Belfast
BT15 3BU
Telephone:01232 370373
Fax:01232 781161
E-Mail:nichs@bass.almc.co.uk


Description:

In 1995 NICHS established an Interdenominational Youth Club at its centre in North Belfast. The centre is situated in an area which is acceptable and accessible to the two traditions in an area where NICHS currently has close links with schools and community groups. This area of North Belfast is highly segregated and has a long history of sectarian tension. About one quarter of all sectarian killings have taken place within a two mile radius of the Centre. In spite of recent political developments there is still gang fighting and rioting between young people in adjacent Catholic and Protestant areas. Unless this problem is tackled real peace will still be an elusive principle in the everyday life of these communities.

The establishment of a Youth Club, whose membership is open to young people from any denomination living in the local area, complements the cross-community work already carried out by the NICHS. It provides a meeting place, with a relaxed and safe atmosphere, where young people can meet, share experiences and extend their cross-community contact. Youth Club programmes will be developed in line with NICHS core projects which can provide:

i) the provision of long-term positive cross-community contact between individuals from segregated and marginalised, yet interface communities.

ii) the provision of opportunities for young Catholics and Protestants to develop on a personal level.

iii) the provision of programmes which seek to address sectarianism and encourage mutual understanding and acceptance.

iv) the provision of opportunities for the segregated communities from which the young people are drawn to initiate and sustain meaningful cross-community work.

The establishment of a Cross-Community Youth Resource Centre in the heart of North Belfast will provide long term positive and regular contact between individuals and their highly segregated and divided communities.

© CCRU 1998-1999
site developed by: Martin Melaugh
page last modified:
Back to the top of this page