Gateley Belfast and East Belfast Mission launch new partnership to tackle homelessness
Our Belfast office has announced a new partnership with the East Belfast Mission (EBM) to help tackle the growing issue of homelessness in the city.
Located within the Skainos Centre, the charity’s focus is on meeting the pastoral and well-being needs of the local community through tackling homelessness, improving employability, and promoting language, culture and identity in one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Northern Ireland.
The partnership will see us support the charity’s Hosford Homelessness Project through fundraising, volunteering opportunities and promoting its work in the community over the next 12 months.
The Hosford Homelessness Project currently supports the homeless or those at risk of being made homeless by providing access to a 26-room hostel including subsidised meals, furniture and clothes. The Project also operates a Tenancy Support Service for its clients.
East Belfast Mission works to share hope, love and leadership in East Belfast and their vision is for a thriving, inclusive and confident East Belfast. The charity provides people in their community with the opportunity and tools to transform their lives through vital services including: Hosford Homelessness services, an Employability project which helps people back to work, an innovative Irish language project to connect a divided community, social economy businesses which provide employment and volunteering opportunities, a free community counselling service, Aspire Kids & Youth project, a community fridge and emergency support for gas and electricity, and a range of community groups and activities.
Alison Reid, partner and head of our Belfast office, said: “Social responsibility and inclusiveness are values that we at Gateley feel passionate about which makes us and EBM a perfect fit. For nearly 40 years the charity has been a part of the fabric of East Belfast helping to transform the lives of so many local people. They have some ambitious housing projects in the pipeline, and we are looking forward to supporting them as much as we can over the coming year.”
Lianne Mulholland, Fundraising and Sustainability Manager at EBM, added: “We are delighted to have been selected by Gateley as a chosen charity for 2024 and are extremely grateful for the support of the organisation and all of their staff.
“Hosford Homelessness Services have been working with the most vulnerable and marginalised in society for over 25 years, providing unique and bespoke support for every individual who needs it.
“In 2024 we are looking forward to further growing our new Hosford Community Homes Project, developing and providing affordable accommodation to provide a new route out of homelessness for those who can’t access social housing or private rentals.
“We are planning to develop 30 homes over the next three years including five long-term homes with Commonweal, a London-based housing charity, and 6 apartments on the Newtownards Road as part of the 240 Project, funded by Urban Villages, Garfield Weston Foundation, Benefact Trust and a mix of generous local supporters.
“With the generous support of Gateley we are looking forward to continuing this exciting and innovative work, directly tackling the housing crisis in Northern Ireland. We cannot thank Gateley enough for their support and look forward to a fruitful year of partnership ahead!”
(Pictured L to R): Aubrey Calderwood (Managing Director of Gateley Capitus), Tom Dinnen (East Belfast Mission), Mark Lennon (Partner at Gateley Legal), Aidan Byrne (East Belfast Mission) and Alison Reid (partner and office head of Gateley Legal in Northern Ireland)
