Ashton Community Trust is an award winning regeneration charity that has been delivering services in North Belfast for over 25 years. It employs over 200 people delivering a wide range of services. The Trust has a number of departments who have an online presence, please visit their websites, like their pages on Facebook or follow them on Twitter to be kept up to date on activities of Ashton Community Trust. Ashton’s service delivery outputs are an important element in community and social development in North Belfast. In each of our service delivery areas we are constantly working to improve and grow the services we provide. Below is a brief summary of some of our key services.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashtoncommunitytrust
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ashtoncommtrust
Website: https://www.ashtoncentre.com/
Main Ashton contact number: 028 90 74 22 55
Bridge of Hope is a community based health and emotional wellbeing service that works with individuals, families and communities affected by the conflict. Our services include complementary therapies, life coaching, psychological therapies including trauma counselling, personal and professional development, legacy and conflict analysis, as well as accredited VTCT training. We take a person centred approach to all of the work we do. You can easily access support by self-referring or by asking your GP or health care worker to refer you into us. Our local clinics operate from the Ashton Centre, McSweeney Centre and Alliance Avenue. We also deliver services in outreach locations right across the city of Belfast.
If you would like to take steps to better health and wellbeing please phone and talk to the team on: 028 9022 1022 or 028 9543 8707. You can read lots more about Bridge of Hope by checking us out on Facebook or logging onto our website.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bridgeofhope.org
Website: http://www.thebridgeofhope.org/
New Lodge Youth Centre
In 2012 the management of the Youth Centre in Upper Meadow Street, locally known as the Grey Gables, was officially handed over by the Belfast Education and Library Board to the Ashton Community Trust (ACT). The decision by ACT to take over management was based on the need to improve usage by local young people, increase programme delivery and maximise the overall potential. Some of the services provided include creative thinking skills, drama, arts and crafts, issue-based group work, cultural awareness, community relations, healthy lifestyles, positive behaviour and other programmes. For further information contact 9075 1358
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewLodgeYouthCentre
Website: www.ashtoncentre.com/services/youth-development/
FabLab (Digital Fabrication Laboratory) is halfway between a laboratory and a workshop it’s a place where you can make (almost) anything, where both small children and inventors can turn an idea into reality. We can make products out of wood, acrylic, composite moulds, silicon, cardboard, sheet aluminium, plastics, copper foil and vinyl using various technological methods. FabLab works with young people, students, community and voluntary organisations, arts groups and individuals, schools, universities and businesses helping people to develop their creativity, skills and life opportunities. For further information contact: 9075 5412
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FabLabBelfast/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FabLabBelfast
Website: https://www.fablabbelfast.org/
The Employment & Training Service has a 20 year track record of delivering training and employability initiatives to unemployed people in North Belfast. Unemployed clients get one to one mentoring, access to high quality training and help identifying and applying for work. The organisation has developed strong links with local community groups, schools and employers and operates from over 20 outreach centres across North Belfast to ensure that all sections of the community have access. For further information contact 9074 2255
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshtonEmploymentServices
Website: https://www.ashtoncentre.com/services/training-and-employment/
New Lodge Arts provides an exciting and packed programme for young people of all ages in dance, drama, film-making, carnival arts, visual arts, volunteer development and youth leadership. We work with approximately 2000 children and young people each year. Our key aim is to make the Arts accessible to all in our communities regardless of age, gender or background. For further information contact 90742255
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nlarts?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/newlodgearts
Website: http://www.newlodgearts.com/
Kinderkids Daycare was established as a social enterprise by Ashton Community Trust in 2000. Since then, the daycares have expanded in response to demand and now operate three daycare centres in North Belfast. Kinderkids provides childcare services to over 250 children aged from birth -12 years. Each daycare is committed to providing high quality, day care and after schools services to children, thereby supporting their development and improving parents’ access to education, training, employment and support services.
Kinderkids believes that learning begins at birth and has a profound effect on lifelong development and adult wellbeing. They acknowledge that quality child care promotes healthy child development at the same time as it supports families, reduces child poverty, advances equality, and deepens social inclusion. For further information contact 9074 2255
https://www.ashtoncentre.com/services/childcare-family-support/