About East Belfast Mission
East Belfast Mission, a registered charity since 1985, moved into a £23m state of the art building known as “Skainos” (Greek for tent) in October 2012.
All EBM projects are now under the one roof and the building is also home to organisations such as NIAMH, New Life Counselling, Tear fund, Replay Theatre Group, Age NI, Lush hair and beauty salon. Working in Community Regeneration in Ballymacarrett, a particularly socially deprived area of east Belfast, EBM has come a long way since the 1800s. EBM is part of the Methodist Church in Ireland and has a long track record of social engagement in the inner city and works to achieve “renewal and transformation in the East Belfast community”.
EBM works across all communities offering a range of services to meet the needs of everyone. With over 100 staff currently employed and approximately 200 volunteers, the range of social projects include:
A worshipping congregation at the church
Church and Community outreach services
Hosford homeless support service
Stepping Stone- employability programme
Social Economy Projects
The social economy projects are the business arm of EBM and the income helps the sustainability of the social projects. A social economy business has 3 aims better known as “the triple bottom line” that is social, financial and environmental objectives.
9 Restore retail shops including a Vintage shop with bridal department at The Park Centre, Belfast
Refresh café, outside catering and meals on wheels service
Refurb workshop dedicated to the refurbishment of good quality second hand furniture
Recycle bicycle repair workshop
EBM Board
• Rev. Brian Anderson (Chairman)
• Mr Stephen Curragh (Chairman of Audit & Risk Sub-Committee)
• Mrs Ann Ferguson (Chairman of Appointments and Remuneration Sub-Committee)
• Mrs Linda Hopley
• Mrs Gail Mercer
• Mrs Naomi Hardon
• Mr Brian Maxwell
• Mr Daniel Jackson
• Mr Iain Colville
Mission Superintendent at EBM Rev Brian Anderson
Born in East Belfast, just of the Woodstock Road, Brian found Jesus in his late teens and has been on a road of discovery as to what following this man means.
Having served for nearly 25 years as a Methodist Minister Brian was President of MCI in 2015-2016 and has held appointments in Magherafelt, Belfast, Lisburn and Bangor. He is now delighted to be "back to his roots" in East Belfast Mission.
Brian's emphasis in ministry has been to help the church look beyond its own walls. To reach those on the margins for whatever reason. With an ecumenical heart, having benefitted from local town clerical meetings wherever he has served, he acknowledges that churches working together benefit each other and community.
In his current role as President of Irish Council of Churches, the main Ecumenical body in Ireland, representing 13 denominations he is an observer of local Politics and seeks to form links between church and political life at whatever level. The Church has the responsibility to hold government to task of serving the common good.
Married to Lesley for 33 years, with two adult children, Michael and Nicola they are also legal guardians of Colin, aged 7, who has complex medical needs, but who embraces all life as to offer.
Keen golfer, skier and runner, watcher of football especially his beloved Liverpool, enjoys American Politic Dramas, a reader, likes a movie that have an actual plot and good food.
Chief Executive at EBM Andrew Irvine
As Chief Operating Officer, Andrew is working to grow the Mission’s Social Economy businesses, in order to allow the Mission to increase its caring and support services in the community. Having qualified for Ministry with the Methodist Church in 2018, Andrew is deeply committed to the Methodist conviction that the Church is called to be involved in society, bringing God’s love, hope and renewal.
With a background in commercial property management, retail markets and city centre management, Andrew has wide experience of organisation review and development, business planning / partnerships and development.
Andrew graduated from the University of Ulster with a BA (Hons.) in Business Studies and has a postgraduate diploma in Place Management from Manchester Metropolitan University.
Andrew is also a non-executive director of Belfast One Business Improvement District and a member of the Executive Council of Belfast Chamber of Trade & Commerce. In his spare time he plays the organ reasonably well, the guitar reasonably badly and is a keen private pilot.