Community benefits from new facilities at Mount Merrion Church
The Cregagh community is already benefitting from brand new facilities at Mount Merrion Church, including a new play area for local children.
The new kitchen, toilets and suite of rooms allow the parish to host a Breakfast Club which, at the time of writing, is into its sixth week.
All the work was made possible by the Social Investment Fund (SIF) set up by the Executive Office to deliver social change in targeted areas. The full £80 million budget has been committed to a total of 68 projects across the 9 SIF zones in Northern Ireland. All of the projects were prioritised by local Steering Groups.
Rector, Revd Adrian Green said:
“When David Heggarty, the Principal of Cregagh Primary School, brought SIF to our attention we discovered that the biggest area of deprivation in Cregagh was educational attainment. As many of the local kids were going to school without a meal, a Breakfast Club was proposed. We thought it was something we could do as a church but when we put in an application, it became clear that our facilities were far from adequate.
“Thanks to SIF, we’ve been able to improve the hall, build the Noah’s Ark play area and get the Club up and running. Seventeen children have registered and around twelve kids call in for cereal, fruit and toast before we walk them over to school. The Breakfast Club is staffed by two classroom assistants from Cregagh Primary, our three Pais Team volunteers and one of our parishioners.”
David Heggarty, commented: “It’s wonderful to see the community already enjoying the benefits of these bang up–to–date facilities here at Mount Merrion Parish Church. The SIF funding has made it possible for the Church to open its arms even wider: offering more than ever to the families of Cregagh and further afield. My own school, Cregagh Primary, knows from first–hand experience what a willing community partner Mount Merrion Parish is. From offering a new Breakfast Club, sports, family support to providing RE lessons, it really is the perfect Church for people who aren’t … in other words, everyone!”
There was also warm praise for Mount Merrion Church from Belfast City Councillor, John Kyle, who said:
“It’s a fantastic local church, really vibrant, all–age, lots of life and energy, well–connected to the local community providing a really valuable resource. It’s somewhere where people can come, belong, be accepted. It’s just made itself a part of the local community and I think that’s a great testimony to a church.”
Bishop Harold dedicated the new facilities in September in one of his last engagements as bishop.
