Love really works at co-op to help young men developLove really works at co-op to help young men...

BY CONOR MCPARLAND@cmcparland91c.mcparland@belfastmediagroup.com

THE journey of Love WorksCooperative “started before itexisted”. Based at the Macrory

Centre in Duncairn Gardens,the cooperative has grown outof small grant-funded projectsthat created opportunities forvoluntary community service.Their vision is to transform

the local community throughequipping and empoweringlocal young men with skillsand attitudes that will helpthem to grow meaningful andhealthy relationships withthemselves and the widercommunity.Project leader and founding

member Richard Higginsonexplained more about the LoveWorks Cooperative: “Thejourney started before itexisted. I was working as afreelance project worker onbehalf of Fortwilliam andMacrory church.“I was interested in creating

accessible work opportunitiesthat brought people togetherthrough hands-on work.“We started with a

community garden and bikerepair project, run with help ofvolunteers. Now a workers’cooperative, we have an open-door policy whereby anyonecan volunteer with us for up tothree months as a volunteer

Love really works at co-opto help young men develop

OPPORTUNITIES: Project leader and founding member of LoveWorks Cooperative, Richard Higginson

Historic Poor House marking acentury of Christmas tradition

12 | North Belfast News 23 December 2017

before becoming a member.”Love Works Cooperative

specifically targets young menbetween the ages of 18 and 35,focusing on tackling pressingissues in the local NorthBelfast area.“Our project is aimed at

people who have troubledpasts, such as homelessness,addictions or crime.“We want to try and address

unemployment, mental healthand alcohol and drug addictionby creating accessible workand a relationship supportnetwork.“The Duncairn area of

North Belfast is an area ofgreat need with high levels ofunemployment, criminal

activity, drug and alcoholabuse and sectarianism. In thearea, there is a high rate ofearly school leavers resultingin low educationalachievement, low employmentrates and low self-esteem.“There is need for young

men to have opportunitieswithin their community wherethey feel valued as an equalfrom the moment they step inthe door in a safe space forthem to develop a sense ofvalue, acceptance, ownershipand responsibility forthemselves, their team andtheir community.“We hope to inspire and help

restore passion and pride inlocal artisan production and

the sense of being part of awider family.“The ethos of what Love

Works is inspired by the factlove is a valuable currency inour relationships.”Love Works is based on

three core strands: bread,bikes and garden, which haveappealed to the young men inthe local communitysurrounding the church asthey are tangible, practical andgive a good sense of worksatisfaction.“Bread is hand-crafted from

start to finish, using organicingredients, based on a weeklydemand from residents ofNorth Belfast and sales inBallyclare,” added Richard.“For bike repair, Love Works

Cooperative operates both arepairs service as well asrefurbishment of unwantedbikes, which are sold online.Training courses in bike repairand maintenance are provided.“The gardening service

offers everything from ageneral tidy-up to a completeoverhaul, giving you theperfect inspiration for yourgarden or yard.”If you want to get involved in

Love Works Cooperative as amember, partner, donor or acustomer visit Love WorksCooperative at the MacroryCentre, 130 Duncairn Gardens,or if you prefer you can goonline at www.loveworkscoop.com

BY EVAN SHORT @evansmse.short@belfastmediagroup.com

THE history of the old BelfastPoor House on Clifton Street hasbeen commemorated through aspecial Christmas event thatcelebrated an act of charity over100 years old.George Benn was a renowned

philanthropist who eachChristmas would donate £1,000to provide a dinner for thedestitute families in thebuilding which now houses anursing home. And to rememberGeorge’s gift, the currentmanagement donated the sameamount to provide residentswith a turkey dinner and a smallgift, delivered by Santa. Thesoundtrack to the event wasprovided by the Trinity CollegeChoir.Una McAuley, Chair of the

Clifton Care Home Committee,said it was a fitting way to markthe 135th anniversary of thehistoric building.“We’re only too happy to

continue to observe thiswonderful tradition everyDecember,” she said. “The Benndinner event is all about ourresidents. We gather everyonetogether to enjoy someChristmas cheer, entertainment,a small Christmas gift fromSanta and a delicious Christmas

dinner – that’s what Christmasis all about after all.”George Benn died in 1882

having made his name throughhis book, A History of the Townof Belfast. In his will he left theBelfast Charitable Societymonies to provide a Christmasdinner for the residents of theHouse, stating: “this sum shall

forever be applied to providingfor the poor inmates of the saidPoor House with a dinner orother entertainment at everyChristmas.’Una said it was a nice way to

link to the past.“The Benn Dinner is very

special to the residents of CliftonHouse Residential Home. Every

year it is how we celebrateChristmas with our residents aswell as being mindful of themany years that have gonebefore. The Benn dinner bringsmuch happiness to our Homeand it will undoubtedly beobserved by Clifton HouseResidential Home for manyyears to come.”

Jackie McNally (left) and John Uprichard receiving gifts from Santa Claus before enjoying theirChristmas lunch