Pete Thompson

My Organisation

Who is Ballysillan Youth For Christ?
Ballysillan Youth for Christ, known as the “ Blue houses” is the leading provider of informal youth work provision in Ballysillan, an area characterised by disadvantage, poverty and deprivation. For 16 years, Ballysillan Youth for Christ has been dedicated to meeting the practical, emotional and spiritual needs of children and young people from all backgrounds and abilities. A dynamic team of 3 full-time staff and 20 volunteers aim to “walk alongside” children, young people and young adults to help them achieve their potential by providing advice, love and support. The charity provides a comprehensive programme of recreational, educational, cross-community and citizenship initiatives which are geared towards effecting positive change in the lives of young people. In the same way that the “Blue houses” are centred at the heart of Ballysillan, young people are at the heart of Ballysillan Youth for Christ and have an integral role to play in the design and implementation of the charity’s programmes.

History
The community drop-in centre was established in the heart of the Silverstream Estate, Ballysillan, in 1993, in response to the needs of the area. The aims of the centre remain the same today as they did 16 years ago.

Aims
1. To build meaningful and long term relationships with young people
2. To support young people in fulfilling their potential through participation in programmes which meet their social, spiritual, educational, physical and emotional needs within a safe environment
3. To promote opportunities for reconciliation to take place, enabling healing in the lives of individuals and communities

Over those 16 years the organisation has built up an excellent reputation within the community and great relationships with the people who live in it. In that time the work itself has slowly grown, moving from a centre run by a few volunteers to now having three full time staff and a team of 20 volunteers, each giving up a night per week to help run the centre’s programmes. The programmes themselves have also grown and expanded in both variety and innovation.