From left Ciaran Shannon (Duncairn Community Partnership, Donal Conway North Belfast Housing Association), Jacqui Gilmore, Housing Manager Apex Belfast and Anthony Kerr (Newington Housing Association) handing over the balloons for release.
International Peace Day and Regeneration
Apex’s commitment to working with communities and in partnership with our tenants and residents was outlined in our fifth Community Involvement Strategy ‘Shaping Your Community’.
As part of our commitment to this Apex was delighted to be involved in a series of two day events at the Limestone Road interface to mark International Peace Day on Monday 21st September pupils from Currie and Holy Family Primary Schools will released over 600 balloons, representing one for each of the pupils in the two schools.
Race for Peace
The event, was called a Race for Peace, and highlighted the importance of promoting peace and reconciliation for our youngest citizens. Each balloon carried a unique identifying number and the one found to have travelled furthest will win a prize for the child.
Meet the Neighbours
Other events included a ‘Meet the Neighbours’ Sunday lunch in a marquee on the interface, a Family Fun Day at the Delaware shared housing complex on Sunday and a senior citizens ‘Tea Dance’ on Monday afternoon. The events were promoted by a number of local community based organisations including Duncairn Community Partnership, as well as three housing associations in the area – Apex, Newington and North Belfast Housing.
Established by the United Nations, International Peace Day is a global occasion that started in 1981.
Such was the success of the two day events they were featured on the BBC news on Monday evening in a special report.
Apex is also involved in another separate initiative in the Tigers Bay and Mountcollyer area. In 2013 Apex built 11 homes on the Limestone Road and Halliday’s Road, a mix of two and three bedroom houses, at a cost off £1.14m. Apex is currently working with a range of statutory and voluntary organisations in the Tigers Bay and Mountcollyer area. This is part of a Department for Social Development initiative – Building Successful Communities. Tigers Bay and Mountcollyer are one of six pilot areas across Northern Ireland.
