Many of the young people from St Brigids Parish Belfast take part in 2 youth programmes GIFT. (Growing In Faith Together) and Youth Faith. These run over the 7 years of secondary school. The young people explore their own gifts and how they can make a difference in the world today. However big or small.

We have built up a relationship with many of the caring organisations in Belfast. They share what they do with us and the young people get involved if they can. Belfast Friendship club is one such organisation. Under normal circumstances BFC hosts a vibrant , diverse and thriving space in which newcomers from anywhere in the world are warmly welcomed, along with locals , to join a huge unruly “ family “ of members. After lockdown they were quick to identify that asylum seekers were most at risk of becoming isolated due to their ongoing financial hardship ( no entitlement to work or access socail secirityand minimal income levels of £37 a week ) Therefore, BFC started a “ Keep talking “ project, topping up phone credit of asylum seeking membersremotely by £15 per month. It quickly had a significant impact.Heres one example

A young man from Sudan arrived as an unaccompanied asylum seeking minor ( under 18 ) and has no family here. As a member of BFC he applied for phone credit. On receipt of the credit he immedialtely responded via WhattsApp to express his thanks. He explained his Father had just passed away in Sudan and, having felt very alone, was now able to keep in touch with his family.

Sadly BFC have had to close this scheme but requests continue to come in to them.

WE WANT TO HELP THEM RE OPEN THE SCHEME. Just £15 can make a difference . We are in a unique position now to understand what it means all experienced to be isolated from our friends and family.

The event:

“The great GIFT chain. Connecting us and connecting others“

On Sunday 28th June the youth of our Parish will attempt to link all their homes by way of a walking chain.Each family will walk to one house , tie ribbons to the gate and connect with a socially distantced chat and a bit of craic. That family will then walk onto the next house and so on until all the houses in the chain have been visited. A relay, so to speak .

The young people will be making paper chains and displaying them in the windows of their houses. They represent our connection with each other and with those newly arrived into Belfast . Please feel free to do one in your home too..