East Belfast Mission

Renewal and Transformation of the East Belfast Community

At East Belfast Mission we work with everyone in our community to improve their spiritual and physical well being. The pages on our web site reflect the many areas of life in East Belfast in which we work with the local community. As a "not for profit" organisation we run many fund raising activities to support our community work. This work includes helping the Homeless in our Hosford project, our child care facility in Bright Sparks, our Skill and Social Enterprise Hub which helps people back to work and sometimes fitness and of course our thriving Church and Community which delivers pastoral care.

We are based in the Skainos Centre on the Newtownards Road. The Skainos Project is an urban regeneration project in inner East Belfast providing shared space for community transformation and renewal. Central to the development is a new street in inner East Belfast, untouched by the history of the Troubles, with the capacity to be genuinely shared space. This civic square is capable of hosting open air events like concerts, farmers' markets and Christmas fairs and is overlooked by new, mixed tenure housing, thereby giving the square a living presence round the clock.

We have won many awards across several projects. Click here to see what we have achieved.

The Newtownards Road frontage of the development features new retail and commercial office space. Inside, and fronting to the square is the work of East Belfast Mission including youth and family services and counselling as well as a community hall and auditorium, and a cafe which spills onto the square.

WHAT'S ON AT EBM WEEKLY?

There are many programmes that run all year round and others are term time. One off events will normally be posted below in the news and events section.

The Turas Irish classes will finish up mid June and a new range of classes will start again in September. Watch here for all details which we will post towards the end of the summer period. Regular events will still happen throughout the summer. Watch facebook for posts or see below.

The FREE Homework club for children is on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday during term time from 3.30 - 5.30pm.

Friday Fusion will recommence on a Friday in September time. The time is normally 6.30-8pm and it costs £1 per child each week.

The EBM Church within the Skainos building, has a regular congregation and a church service each Sunday morning at 11am. Everyone is welcome. Primary school age children can attend Sunday School whilst the church service is on.

The Church has a Friendship Club which is on a Wednesday from 2-3.30pm. Everyone is welcome to come along.

Time Out is held on the second Tuesday of the month from 12.30-12.50. in the auditorium.

Men's bible classes are held on a Tuesday from 10.30-12 noon and there is a mid-week Bible & Prayer class on a Wednesday evening from 7.30-2045 in the prayer chapel.

The community team hold an Over 50's lunch group on a Thursday with fun activities and a great lunch for very little so if you need new friends and a laugh, come along.

Our Stepping Stone Lemis+ team are here to help you find a job. If you need help to find your dream job, get some training, get advice or help with interview skills or filling in an application form, please make contact and sign up with the team - 90458560.

Hosford have a variety of regular activities including the Street Soccer, Going Green gardening group, EBM choir and many other programmes.

NEWS AND EVENTS

Turas Events and Weekly Classes
All welcome!

News from the
Homeless World Cup 2017

This year’s Homeless World Cup took place from the 29th August - 5th September. The Northern Ireland men’s and women’s squads have made history at the Homeless World Cup in Norway. The talented group of young footballers, who have experienced homelessness, starred at the eight-day tournament which was held in Oslo. Northern Ireland’s men’s squad made history by finishing 12th overall in the competition - their highest finish to date.

Gerry Armstrong, Street Soccer NI ambassador, said: "What a great cause to be involved with and a wonderful opportunity to help people representing our country achieve their goals to compete in a World Cup competition, this can give them the confidence, belief and a chance to get jobs, and homes, and to improve their situation in life."

Aidan Byrne, co-founder of Street Soccer NI and Manager of the Hosford Homelessness service at East Belfast Mission, added: “Over the past four years we have seen the Homeless World Cup project have a huge positive impact on the lives of the players. I’m delighted that our players from the first women’s team have had the same opportunities to transform their lives. I’m really proud to be involved in this project which is using an innovative approach to tackling homelessness.”

The team got out of the group stages, guaranteeing a place in the last 16 with a hard fought 4-3 victory over Costa Rica in one of the best games of the tournament. Another win over Ukraine put Northern Ireland into 12th position - an amazing achievement in a very tough competition.

Goalkeeper Ashleigh Young pictured above

Goalkeeper Ashleigh Young said: "It was the best experience ever. The atmosphere was amazing and I have met friends from all over the world. I've been homeless for two years; It’s given me the motivation I lacked - I now want to get a house, get a job, and in two weeks I’m starting a qualification in security. "I also want to go to the Homeless World Cup next year as a volunteer."

Northern Ireland’s women’s team also made history as they were the first women’s team to represent NI at the Homeless World Cup. With victories over USA and Belgium the squad also qualified into the last 16 of the tournament. Following defeats, by the Republic of Ireland and Norway, NI’s women exceeded all expectations and finished 16th - a superb result for the first ever women’s squad. There were 50 countries represented at this year’s competition which has been running for the past 12 years. Brazil was this year’s men’s champions and Mexico won the women’s final.

Men’s captain Conor Deane from Derry, who had an outstanding tournament, said: ‘I was Homeless for three months. Street Soccer and the Homeless World Cup has helped me wise up and see things differently and not to give up when things are hard. "I am now motivated to work instead of just lying about on the dole also I want to get into coaching because football is my passion."

Squad member Steven Hawkins, the only person to score a header in the tournament, said: "This has been the best experience of my life. I will never forget it and I want to thank all the staff and funders who made it possible. "I wish I was starting again! I've seen a change in myself from being part of this team. It's helped me deal with my anger and other issues I face which have had a big negative impact on my life. "Today I started looking for work. I also want to get my own home and complete coaching qualifications. My dream is to become a coach and return to the Homeless World Cup, support the team, and to help other people see the same changes in their lives."