Urban Villages Focus Magazine ISSUE 9

EAST BELFAST Urban Villages Initiative in EastSide

New Hosford Health and Wellbeing Hub

East Belfast Mission (EBM) has led the development of ‘The Hosford Health and Wellbeing Hub’ in a shop unit in the Skainos Centre on the Newtownards Road. The project promotes and supports the physical and mental health & wellbeing of a diverse group of participants who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness along with local residents; in an inclusive and shared community space. The hub has provided an amazing venue to host a wide range of project activities,

Several events have been hosted in the hub already, including celebration meals with music and a quiz for local residents. They enjoyed

delicious Sudanese and Caribbean food cooked by some of the project

participants currently residing in the EBM Homeless hostel. Project participants also visited the Armagh Planetarium, the MAC Theatre and went shopping together.

Exploring the importance of community through group activities, learning new skills, preparing and eating meals together has helped to develop improved good relations between project participants and local residents.

weekly ‘drop in’ sessions and horticultural therapy sessions in the nearby community garden.

Urban Villages Initiative | Focus Magazine Issue 9