Some festive cheer from Christmas 2015.Christmas Community Event at first TBUC Development
The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) is supporting a programme for 10 Shared Neighbourhood schemes in social housing under the ‘Together : Building United Community’ (TBUC) Strategy. Apex is delighted to have completed the first TBUC development at Ballynafoy Close, Ravenhill Road, Belfast.
The strategy outlines a vision for a “a united community, based on equality of opportunity, the desirability of good relations and reconciliation – one which is strengthened by its diversity, where cultural expression is celebrated and embraced and were everyone can live, learn, work and socialise together, free from prejudice, hate and intolerance”.
Community engagement and tenancy participation is crucial to success and to start this process Apex organised an informal Christmas Drop-In evening on Wednesday 16th December. We had festive refreshments (donated by the local Sainsbury and Tesco stores), crafts and colouring competitions for the kids, members of Belfast Temple Salvation Army band played carols and we had some informal ‘stations’ which gave the adults opportunity to tell us what they think about living in the Close and what we can improve.
‘I like how closed in it is for kids so they can play and is safe’.
In addition we put up an Apex Graffiti wall which everyone enjoyed writing and drawing on. One of the comments left on the wall about Ballynafoy said ‘I like how closed in it is for kids so they can play and is safe’.
The evening was a great success with over 30 residents from the Close attending; Santa even made an appearance and gave everyone a small gift from Apex. We invited everyone who attended to consider being more involved in the community activities which we will be hoping to organise in the coming year.
We look forward to the official opening of the estate which will take place in the New Year with representatives from OFMDFM.
