GREATER WHITEWELL COMMUNITY SURGERY
ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2023
PEACEBARRIER SITE UPDATE
SITE 1 – SERPENTINE ROAD/NAVARRA PLACE: WHILE THIS SITE IS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED, UNFORTUNATELY THERE WAS AN INCIDENT ON THE 11[TH] NIGHT WHERE BINS WERE REMOVED FROM PROPERTIES IN THE SERPENTINE ROAD AND SET ALIGHT. POLICE WERE CALLED BUT DID NOT ATTEND. REPRESENTATIVES FROM WHITECITY PROMPTLY DEALT WITH THE ISSUES. DOJ INFORMED GWS THAT DUE TO FIRE REGULATIONS THE CRIME PREVENTION OFFICER HAS MADE RECOMMENDATION UNDER HEALTH AND SAFETY THAT THE ANTI SHATTER FILM SHOULD NOT BE USED. WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED WHEN WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION.
SITE 2 – SERPENTINE GARDENS/GUNNELL HILL: DOJ AND THE NIHE HAVE SAID THIS SITE IS NOT A PRIORITY DUE TO THE FINANCIAL COSTS. THERE IS POTENTIAL TO DO A COST-EFFECTIVE CHANGE UNTIL SUCH TIMES AS IT IS MORE FINANCIALLY VIABLE, AS RESIDENTS HAVE CONCERNS REGARDING THE STABILITY OF THE STRUCTURE. WE ARE WORKING ALONG WITH THE DOJ AND THE RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS AND ANY IMMEDIATE SAFETY ISSUES.
SITE 3 – THRONE/HAZELWOOD: THIS SITE IS STILL ON THE DOJ PRIORITY LIST. THE NO MANS LAND HAS BEEN CLEARED. THE SCHOOL HAS REINFORCED THE FENCING FROM THE WOODLAND. THE EDUCATION AUTHORITY ALSO PARK THEIR BUSES IN THE GROUNDS. A NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT HAS REMOVED THE VACANT GROUND WERE A LOT OF ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR WOUD TAKE PLACE. A REASSESSMENT BY THE CPO IS BEING DONE TO BRING THE SITE UP TO DATE AND DOJ WILL GET BACK TO US AS SOON AS THE REASSESSMENT IS COMPLETED.
SITE 4 – GRAYMOUNT/LOWER WHITEWELL: GWCS WORKING ALONGSIDE RESIDENTS HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT THAT THE GATE WILL BE CLOSED AT 9.30PM EVERY NIGHT WHICH WAS ALSO SUPPORTED BY THE DOJ. DOJ ARE REQUESTING ANOTHER FOOTFALL SURVEY TO BE CARRIED OUT BY STUDENTS FROM QUEENS UNIVERSITY AS THEY THOUGHT DUE TO THE TIMING OF THE LAST SURVEY IT DID NOT SHOW A TRUE REFLECTION OF THE NUMBERS USING IT. RESIDENTS ARE ASKING ABOUT THE AFTERCARE PACKAGE AND GWCS INFORMED THEM OF THE MORE UP TO DATE INFORMATION. WE WILL CALL A MEETINGWHEN WE ARE GIVEN MORE DETAILS FROM THE DOJ.
IFI PROGRAMMES: WE HAVE A WELL ATTENDED MEN’S/WOMEN’S GROUP WHICH HAVE COME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS ISSUES REGARDING THE PEACE BARRIERS AND WHETHER IT IS TIME FOR THEIR REMOVAL. THE GROUP ALSO GO BACK TO THE HISTORY OF THE AREA WHEN EVERYONE HAD FRIENDS ON BOTH SIDES AND HOW IT GOT TO PEACE BARRIERS BEING ERECTED AND SEPARATION OF COMMUNITIES. THIS GROUP HAVE QUITE IN-DEPTH CONVERSATIONS WITH A LOT OF HONEST OPINIONS.
AREAS AT RISK: FUNDING CAME THROUGH VERY LATE AND 10% WAS CUT FROM THE BUDGET. WE ARE PROVIDING VARIOUS PROGRAMMES AND TRAINING FOR THE COMMUNITY WITH THIS BUDGET WHICH WERE IDENTIFIED BY OUR RESIDENTS.
BALLYGOLAN: UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN ACQUIRING THE BALLYGOLAN SITE. A PRIVATE DEVELOPER PURCHASED THE SITE, AND WE WERE OUTBID. WE ARE WORKING ALONG WITH DTNI TO LOOK AT OTHER SITES AND WILL KEEP THE COMMUNITY UPDATED.
WE SUCCESSFULLY EMPLOYED A NEW COMMUNITY WORKER/PEACE ADVOCATE.
SERVICES PROVIDERS:
CO-OPERATION IRELAND
CLANMILL HOUSING ASSOCIATION.
ASHTON CENTRE
DFC
NEWTOWNABBEY JOBS CLUB
FAMILIES NEED FATHERS
NORTH BELFAST ADVICE CENTRE
NIHE COHESION UNIT YOUTH PROGRAMMES ONGOING
MENTAL HEALTH SURGERY (AS AND WHEN NEEDED)
ST VINCENT DE PAUL
GREENCASTLE MOTHERS AND TODDLERS
FELDON ADVISORY GROUP
FORTWILLIAM YOUTH CENTRE
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL OUR EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION THROUGHOUT THIS VERY UNSETTLED YEAR, DEALING WITH THE COST-OF-LIVING ISSUES THAT OUR COMMUNITY ARE FACING. IT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING WITH THE INCREASE OF DRUG RELATED CRIM AND ANTI SOCIAL ISSUES BUT WITHOUT YOUR INPUT AN WORK, THIS AREA WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES WE HAVE HAD.
BRIEGE FLYNN
CHAIRPERSON