174 Trust, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Building peace and promoting reconciliation are at the heart of the 174 Trust. This is done in the context of finding common cause with other groups and the community itself and partnering with them to meet local needs. Being openhanded and operating on the principle that less control leads to more influence are some of the keys to their success...

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Murder Mile

The 174 Trust is situated in one of the most deprived parts of Northern Ireland. The unemployment rate among men is over 50% while 85% of people don’t have any educational qualifications. The area is also known as ‘Murder Mile’ due to the fact that one in five of the murders committed over the last thirty years of Northern Ireland’s troubles took place there. It was against this backdrop that the 174 Trust was founded in 1982 by two churches, Duncairn Presbyterian and Antrim Road Baptist.

Openhandedness brings diversity

Bill Shaw has been the director of the charity for the last 12 years and he says the heart of the project is to help local people identify local needs and then to partner with them to meet those needs. He finds people are often surprised that the charity is so open-handed to members of the community who want to use their facilities, but that has been the key to their success. “When I first started here we were in the process of building a café,” Bill says. “A local woman got in touch with me and asked about it so I said she was free to run it as a community café. She was amazed that we would give it over to her but we were more than happy for her to run it and provide a place for people to come and meet.”  Next an Irish Language Primary School approached Bill, looking to use the premises and the 174 Trust gladly opened their doors. After parents dropped off their children they would often pop into the café, and soon relationships were built and word was out that the 174 Trust was open to requests from community groups. They now see about 800 people come through their doors every week through partnerships with 16 local community groups including a pre-school playgroup, a project to help young carers, an after-school club and a support group for parents whose children have Asperger’s syndrome. Every Saturday night the older members of community use the hall for a dance - a great way to ease the social isolation that many feel, as well as a chance for them to get some light exercise.

Modelling justice, love and mercy

Bill says, “We weren’t interested in starting a new church or denomination, we just wanted to care for people. We want to empower them, not to patronise them and to help them find a way to independence so they can do things for themselves.” Though the Trust is unashamedly Christian they are clear they don’t want to pressurise anyone to convert. "The kingdom is about justice, love and mercy and we as Christians have to model that. For us evangelism comes in the context of finding a common cause with the community – whatever it is that they are concerned about – be it social housing or the high suicide rate in the area – and working together to solve it. Often people are hardened to the gospel but if you work closely with them on issues that are close to their hearts, they begin to open up."

Less control more influence

One of Bill’s catch phrases is ‘less control more influence’ and it’s clear to see how this works within the project. With his agenda simply being to support the community he finds they respect him and therefore ask for his input and involvement. “I was invited to be one of the Governors of the school,” Bill explains, “That would never have happened if I’d tried to push my way in and force an agenda on anyone.” Likewise when there were troubles between Catholics and Protestants resulting in blockades in the community, it was Bill who was asked to come and mediate between the groups. “Our gospel majors in reconciliation,” Bill points out, “We are duty bound and equipped as Christians to be a part of the solution. Although I had no training in mediating I knew I had to go and do what I could.” Bill’s heart is that the 174 Trust can help bring healing, peace and reconciliation to the area. In fact their premises are the only community facility that both Catholics and Protestants can use. Part of Bill’s work has been to hold a monthly clergy breakfast to help this reconciliation process. “It may not seem radical but here Presbyterian and Catholic ministers don’t usually mix so we bring everyone together once a month, have some food together and allow friendships to form as we talk about topics of common concern. Sadly there’s no quick fix but we want to take a long term view and do all we can to drive the reconciliation agenda.”

Inspired? Bill shares his key values for working in the community:

• It’s not about having a great idea; it’s about reacting to what is needed in the area and listening to the community. The most vital thing is to find ways to give your community an opportunity to articulate their needs.

• We have to choose to get involved. Whatever the skills and resources in our church we can all find a need in the community to meet whether that’s providing a cup of a tea and a chat to those who are lonely, or making a nutritious meal for those who are hungry. Keep your eyes open as to what the needs are and then choose to do something rather than walk on by.

• Don’t be afraid to move on. For us it feels like we’re an incubator; sometimes things flourish and other times they die. Some projects run successfully for a few years then peter out; we’re ok with that as when they end it gives space for something new to grow.

Liza Hoeksma, Spring 2010

If you’d like to talk to the 174 Trust about how you could do something similar in your community, you can email them at info@174trust.org
For more information on the trust visit www.174trust.org

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