JCI Belfast were delighted to support the Welcome Organisation Belfast with a volunteering event at their centre just before Easter.

The local chamber has had a long-running partnership with the Welcome Organisation via our unsold food programme, where the charity acts as one of the distributors.

On this occasion however, the team were able to contribute in a slightly different way, by assisting the 'Street Gems' team at the centre on Townsend St, off the Shankill Rd.

Duties included some heavy lifting, manufacturing a display shelf out of an old set of lockers & sorting out some fabrics and donations in preparation for the activities of the following day.

The Street Gems team provides an important service for users through arts and crafts, up cycling, woodwork and design.  During our visit we were shown around and viewed some of the incredible productions of the team so far.

The Welcome Organisation is a homelessness charity which provides vital support and a network for our most in need around Belfast and beyond through activities like those described above but also directly via front line services where support is provided to rough sleepers in the city.

Part of the mission of JCI is to empower citizens to be able to go back to their communities and create a sustainable impact.  Our programme of activities with the Welcome Organisation attempts to do that with hands on support.