Emmanuel Christian Fellowship - Links Underground
A youth centre has crossed the religious divide in the town of Lurgan, located south-west of Belfast in a region once dubbed ‘Murder Triangle’.
‘The town witnessed a lot of bloodshed in the troubles,’ says Alain Emerson who helped to set up the ‘Underground’ facility, part of a pioneering community project called Links.
While Northern Ireland’s 1998 power sharing agreement has stood firm at political level, Lurgan’s young people struggle with high unemployment and boredom – a social vacuum that leaves them vulnerable to drug dealers and recruitment drives by dissident groups intent on reigniting the conflict that cost 3,600 lives over three decades.
The Underground centre is situated on Castle Lane, a neutral interface between Roman Catholic communities on one side and Protestants on the other. Teenagers from both sides of the divide use the facility in roughly equal numbers.
The vision for the project came from a church – Emmanuel Christian Fellowship – but Links is determinedly non-denominational.
‘It grew out of a heart to reach out and touch our local community, without people feeling we were looking for something back,’ says Alain. ‘At the same time we wanted to take away the stigma from it being a church as some people might find that difficult because of a negative understanding of church. Being non-denominational allowed us to show that everyone was welcome.’
The underground incorporates a well-equipped computer room, creative arts room, a stage and lighting area, a kitchen and common room with table tennis, pool tables and chill out zone with soft seating.
An after school drop-in service offers young people a safe, shared space where they can relax and enjoy each other’s company.
The facilities are supplemented by a variety of personal development courses, including dance, cookery, peer leadership, and drug, alcohol and sexual health awareness.
‘We saw a lack of purpose among young people, so first of all we wanted to give them a sense of belonging, love, acceptance and tolerance, and from there to go onto personal development to see them mature in their life choices,’ says Alain.
Youth workers and volunteers also do ‘detached’ work on the street, which is especially vital during the summer when sectarian emotions are stirred by Protestant commemorations of past military victories.
‘We try to gauge the level of substance abuse and other stuff going on. During the tense months it becomes like fire fighting, just trying to bring calm when there’s any potential fighting that could be happening between both sides of the community during the parades season.’
A ‘diversionary’ programme also helps young people by taking them out of their immediate environment. For example, they might go away and learn about the history of the troubles from both sides.
A group of eight or nine girls recently went out to Uganda to help a church build a school in the local community. ‘The experience opened their eyes up to poverty and let them see at first-hand how other people live. They were genuinely challenged.
Alain believes that patience is one of the keys to launching a successful project. ‘The first three years were pretty sitting round the table with the concept, but there was a belief that God had provided for a church so he would provide for the project as well. The church gave us 5 per cent of offerings for home mission and that allowed us to employ someone on a part-time basis – and that led to what’s happening now.
‘You need a good board, a good skill mix of people as well, but I think ultimately you need to believe in what you’re doing and commit yourself to that process.’
The Links mission statement includes the phrase ‘we believe in the inherent brilliance and beauty of every young person and are committed to try and see that reach that potential.’
‘Ultimately we want to see them find Jesus and connect with them on the streets,’ says Alain. ‘There’s been big steps taken, but there’s still a lot to be done.’