New community centre underway in South Belfast

Belfast South Network Company has announced development of a new community partnership networking centre which will be open for business in April 2012. The Agape (pronounced Aga-pay) Centre offers an exciting new space for the community.

Following some years of investigation and exploration, it became clear that the local community has a need for a purpose-built facility to address the many social issues in the area of south Belfast.

The aim of the project is to provide a cross community partnership networking centre to enable collaboration and resource sharing among the statutory, voluntary and community sectors.  No such facility presently exists.

This centre will provide a visible, co-ordinating focal point for a range of specific services to the diverse local community of south Belfast.  We plan to build on emerging relationships, to foster new ones, all with the idea of increasing social cohesion.  The building will provide accommodation and services to a multiplicity of users, including ethnic minorities, parents, young people and children, the elderly and other disadvantaged groups.

The project will:

  • Provide a quality accommodation facility for use by service providers, community groups, families and individuals within the impact area,
  • Enable networking between such service providers, ensuring that the total provision is more than the individual parts,
  • Offer conference and seminar rooms, with catering facilities, for functions aimed at promoting social inclusion,
  • Provide a visible focus for the development of community life,
  • Increase the integration and inclusion of cultural diversity of the area,
  • Provide an easily accessible neutral venue for an area where there has been an underdevelopment of services and a lack of community development.

The project programmes will be delivered initially through the services provided by consortium partners.  Regular user group sessions will then develop further networking and identify potential synergies between partners.  As the project evolves and responds flexibly to identified need, such synergies will lead to further service provision in the community.

AGAPE Centre (Aga-pay)

238-266 Lisburn Road

Belfast BT9

The new £2.7m community partnership networking building should be available for occupancy from Monday 2 April 2012. Conference, seminar, training and meeting rooms are on offer at very competitive rates. 

In these days of efficiency savings, and in the present hard, economic climate, it is essential and perhaps the only way forward for community groups and activities, is through collaboration, partnership working, co-operation and creating synergy from within their Sector and among the statutory agencies. 

Service providers from the local area have reserved space for a permanent presence on the second floor of the building. BSNC is fully community orientated, operating a non-profit making company for the sole benefit of improving community life and helping people in the area. 

Further details from [email protected] or 028 9060 4200 or 07773 656 834

Last updated 6 years 4 months ago