Collective Action in North Belfast delivers phenomenal results

Established by the North Belfast Advice Partnership (NBAP), the teams are providing advice on benefits, debt and tribunal representation as well as operating a foodbank and delivery service and a nightly homeless outreach service.

Moving the foodbank to Holy Cross Boys Primary School has given the teams more space and enabled social distancing. Multiple agencies have come together including the Vine Centre/NBAP; Ligoniel Improvement Association; Ballysillan Community Forum; Cliftonville Regeneration Forum; Greater Whitewell Community Surgery; Ardoyne Youth Enterprise; Upper Ardoyne. 

Contact Details
- email: [email protected]
- Ardoyne Association: 028 9071 5165
- Ballysillan Community Forum: 028 9039 1272
- The Vine Centre: 028 9035 1020
- Ligoniel Improvement Association: 028 9039 1225
- Tar Isteach: 028 9074 6665

A committed team of 44 Volunteers from across North Belfast and Shankill have come together to resource the food bank. A further six volunteers from Ardoyne Association are providing shopping services and prescription collection five days per week.  

Other key highlights include:

• Distribution of 550 food parcels to all folds, hostels, and sheltered accommodation.
• 35 homeless packs each night to homeless people with a total of 900 to date.
• 150 pensioner packs out per week to older people shielding with a total to date of 450.
• 200 pensioners receiving Sunday dinner in Upper Ardoyne Ballysillan area.
• Supporting Clare Project with emergency aid for older people.
• Supporting the North Belfast Soup Kitchen delivering 200 soups per day.
• 80 pensioners getting pensioner food and safety pack in Upper Ardoyne.
• 131 older people receiving fresh nutritional meals from Ben Madigan’s Bar and Restaurant with total meals to date of 3829.
• 50 people getting meals three times per week from Vine Centre - going out to people with poor mental health/vulnerable/older with total meals to date of 400.
• 996 family food hampers out in first six weeks of response.
• 1000 Sunflower Kits out to families in Ligoniel, Ardoyne, Marrowbone, Oldpark areas for NB In BLOOM Challenge. 

All of this has been possible through a combination of support from Belfast City Council as well as from the organisations themselves. 

A phenomenal effort all round and a superb example of voluntary action and community development in practice.