The Star Neighbourhood Centre
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The Star Neighbourhood Centre was opened in February 1990 and is located in the New Lodge area of Inner North Belfast.
Since its opening, the Star has been a focal point for the local community.
The Star Neighbourhood Centre attempts to tackle social exclusion by promoting community development in all aspects of its work. This in turn builds the confidence, self-esteem and capacity of local people to participate in neighbourhood regeneration.
From small beginnings in 1990, the centre now provides a number of services, programmes and facilities to the local New Lodge community within the Inner North Neighbourhood Renewal area, including:-
- Playgroup
- A registered after-schools project
- Little Stars a social economy childcare project supporting parents in employment or training.
- A youth project
- A third age/senior citizens group
- Education and training programmes
- Residents group support
- Transport
- Play park
- A gym facility for health & fitness programmes
- Houses Star Amateur Boxing Club
- Hosts St Patrick’s Football Club
- Host Pearse’s GAC
The Star also acts as a local resource centre for the community offering facilities such as typing, photocopying, computer and internet access, telephone/fax, lending equipment and acts as a conduit to statutory and voluntary organisations for local people to access information on training, benefits, legislation, employment etc.
In recent years with substantial funding from the Big Lottery and the Urban II the Star Neighbourhood Centre was able to build a double extension and renovate the building. The building is now accessible for people with disability. This major development has improved both the quality childcare provision and the youth service and has also allowed the organisation to develop in new areas and provide space for other groups within the community to meet, organise or part-take in training and development programmes.
As well as the provision of services and facilities, the Star acts as a development catalyst for the area, advocating and campaigning on behalf of the community to attract resources and drawing the attention of resource providers and policy makers to the needs of the area. The organisation has developed immensely over the past 20 years and is not only a community development organisation and service provider but a small sized employment provider in the local area, currently employing 9 paid staff with the facility for trainees, placements and volunteer involvement, underpins all areas of work.
Detailed below are the Star Neighbourhood Centre’s mission, vision and values which underpin all activities
Mission Statement To improve the quality of life of local residents by providing much needed services to the local New Lodge community.
Vision Working together to address the needs of the local community with proper resources.
Values In working together towards our mission, we are committed to a number values which guide the way we operate. The values are defined by the following:
Community Led The participation of local people is central to our work.
Respect Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
Equality and Social Justice We seek to challenge poverty, inequality, injustice and discrimination in all its forms.
Quality We value creativity and innovation; we strive to deliver quality and best practice in everything we do.
Accessibility We will ensure that services are accessible to all
Integrity We will work together at all times, ensuring sensitivity, openness and accountability
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The Star Neighbourhood CentreHillman Street 79-83Belfast, BT15 2FSUnited Kingdom
