-
Removed
-
This charity was removed from the register on 9 Mar 2021
- Charity no. 102494
- Date registered. 10/12/2015
Public benefits
Purpose i: The direct benefits which flow from purpose 1 include increased welfare, standard of living, and access to opportunity, social recreation and education for residents of the Suffolk/Lenadoon area. Residents will benefit from increased services and, in the long term, economic regeneration. This is demonstrated through improved educational
attainment and employment amongst participants in our programmes, and increased uptake in sports and recreational activities. We can also measure the practical effects of lobbying statutory agencies and organisations through the quality and value of services being brought into the area. This benefit is for all local residents of Suffolk and Lenadoon in West Belfast, regardless of age, gender, and religious affiliation, but restricted to this geographical area. Purpose ii: The benefits of challenging sectarian attitudes and behaviour, and promoting religious harmony are, we believe, many. The Suffolk/Lenadoon interface is an area of on-going conflict and tension, and local residents will benefit from a cessation of violence and the creation of long-term sustainable peace where they can live free from fear of discrimination and hatred, and where businesses and homes can thrive to their full potential. People will benefit from increased freedom to pursue their religious and spiritual beliefs without fear of recrimination. These benefits are demonstrated by police records indicating lower incident-rates along the interface and throughout the wider community. We can also demonstrate positive feedback from participants and an increased willingness in residents to participate in cross-community activities. Finally, in 2008 we conducted a baseline survey measuring local attitudes and behaviours, and we can measure our progress against this. The promotion of religious harmony and reduction in conflict benefits all residents of Suffolk and Lenadoon, as well as local business owners, employers, education providers, and other statutory agencies working in the area who will no longer have to work in an atmosphere of conflict and who are free to reach their full potential. Purpose iii: The benefits flowing from this purpose include improved self-esteem and confidence, and spiritual freedom. Residents will benefit from increased cross-community friendships, leading to decreased loneliness as well as a more harmonious and productive area to live in. The promotion of good citizenship will produce a benefit of reduced crime, and sectarian attitudes and behaviour will be challenged as residents interact with other, often for the first time. This is measured by participant feedback and police crime records, as well as increased numbers of residents taking part in local education and volunteering schemes. Again, this benefits all local residents who live in Suffolk and Lenadoon. It is possible that the purposes of SLIG can create harm in that particpants who hold sectarian attitudes are given (albeit controlled) access to each other. There are also risks involved with working with children and young adults, which we manage by fully complying with Child Protection best practise. However we believe the positive benefits of challenging sectarian attitudes and behaviour far outweighs these potential harms. There are some minor private benefits - in the pursuit of these purposes we are required to employ staff and to contract in consultants and facilitators, all of whom receive renumeration. In addition to this, as our Group is comprised of local residents often they and their family members participate in our programmes and gain the benefits involved, such as educational qualifications. However these private benefits are necessary and incidental to our overall purposes, as without our staff and members we would be unable to conduct this important work.
What your organisation does
In the furtherance of our three purposes SLIG conducts a range of activities: We liaise with and lobby local statutory agencies, educational bodies, local Assembly and other relevant organisations, to improve the range of local services. We support local capital build initiatives which benefit local residents. We deliver programmes around
contentious issues that traditionally divide the two neighbouring communities, e.g. parades and political history, and explore those we hold in common such as debt management and mental health. We have a youth programme targeting young people involved in anti-social/sectarian behaviour, involving both single identity and joint good relations projects. Additionally we do a range of projects aimed at improving their wellbeing, employability, and citizenship. We also regularly hold cross-community sports events for young people. We facilitate accredited and non-accredited training programmes for local adults. We partner with IFI to deliver a programme aimed at improving the appearance and use of ‘Peace Wall’ barriers throughout the area. We promote the long term sustainability of Suffolk Community Forum and Lenadoon Community Forum, who’s members jointly make up our Management Committee. We create spaces for residents to jointly socialise and interact in a safe environment. As a recognised role-model of peace-building, we regularly host local, national and international groups who are interested in visiting our project and learning our history and methods. We educate on issues specific to interface areas, through a ‘Youth Work in Interface Areas’ module which has been delivered at the University of Ulster. We are exploring ways to develop this for different age groups and contexts. We partner with other agencies to conduct research on local attitudes and behaviours; much of this work is published and available to the public. We work closely with local Community Safety groups to manage on-going tensions.
The charity’s classifications
- The advancement of education
- The advancement of citizenship or community development
- The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity
- Other charitable purposes
Who the charity helps
- Adult training
- Community safety/crime prevention
- Interface communities
- Older people
- Specific areas of deprivation
- Women
- Youth (14-25 year olds)
How the charity works
- Community development
- Cross-border/cross-community
- Cultural
- Education/training
- Volunteer development
- Youth development
Charitable purposes
The objects of the Group shall be: i. To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of the Suffolk and Lenadoon areas and their neighbourhoods (hereinafter called "the area") without distinction of sex or race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together with the said inhabitants and the local authorities, voluntary organisations and other organisations based in the community in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants. ii. To promote religious harmony and tolerance between diverse sections of the community in the area in an effort to reduce conflict, intolerance and discrimination. iii. To promote the mental and spiritual welfare and improvement of the community and to promote good citizenship in the area.