L’Arche Belfast have two new projects and we are looking for adults with disabilities in the Belfast area to apply for places. COMMUNITY GROWTH is to begin in February so get in touch soon! Details below. And don’t forget GROW COOK CATER is still looking for more participants as well!
Grow Cook Cater is a unique training programme for young people with learning disabilities, linking growing tasty organic vegetables and fruit with cooking and catering.
Who: The course is for young people with a learning disability aged primarily between 18 and 25 (exceptions will be made on the upper age limit).
Duration: 10 months, 1 and a half days per week (one day in allotment, half day in kitchen).
Schedule: Kitchen Sessions = Monday OR Thursday OR Friday 9am – 1pm & Allotment Sessions = Tuesday OR Wednesday OR Thursday 9am – 3.30pm
CONTACT: Brian Burns (L’Arche Belfast), brian.b@larchebelfast.org.uk 07741462552
Funded through Big Lottery Fund NI Empowering Young People programme.
GROW In the Garden young people will follow the seasons of the year and be challenged to ready the ground, plant, tend the plot, and harvest. They will also take responsibility for caring for the chickens. As part of this work they will benefit from a structured programme of education, training and exercise and be encouraged to develop their own gardens independently. Nutrition awareness and improved diets will result.
COOK In the Kitchen young people will have the opportunity to prepare, cook and serve meals using produce grown in the Garden. The training will develop independent living skills, communication and team work. Nutrition awareness and improved diets will result.
CATER The Table Programme will develop the young people’s skills to share the food they have grown and cooked. They will develop food service skills in different environments – serving their friends and families with meals, providing community lunches for disadvantaged communities and catering for community and corporate functions.
The training programme will include a Summer Scheme, participation in Festivals, Fetes and work day visits providing interactive, social and work experiences for participants.
People came from far and wide to attend our Christmas Fair where there was a whole range of high quality craft and food, games, wreath making and even an appearance from the man himself!
To celebrate Thanksgiving we have an annual ‘Pumpkins and Pies’ dinner catered by our own Root Soup.
We have discos every month but this one was particularly special as we had expert face painting by Nicola Doole. Spooks a plenty!
Hi! I’m May!
So much has been going on, I can’t remember it all!
I started working in the office on Tuesday afternoons with Naomi. We plan events, count money, make posters, send emails, make calls, and stuff like that. I love it.
I’ve been to Canary Islands, Kilkenny, and Amsterdam on holiday in the past year. We went to visit a past assistant (Luisa) in Tenerife, had a great time, went to the beach!
Cross links is a youth group that I used to do it was on Monday nights and it’s finished now. I feel sad about that.
Life in the Ember is great, I like the other core members and the assistants. It’s Easter, we’re having some parties.
What is your name? Thomas
Where do you live? Hearth. L’Arche Belfast.
How long have you lived at L’Arche? A really long time [12 years].
What do you like to do? Walking, and run, and have time on my own.
What do you do during the week? Go to centre, see people. Go home. Go on a wee walk, go to the Ember sometimes [L’Arche Belfast’s first home].
What is your week like? [On Sundays] go on a run at Mary Peters Track if it’s a nice day. Go to church; sometimes I go to church and sometimes I don’t.
What about the rest of your week? [Saturday’s] go to work at Common Grounds.
Do you like to work? I do. Spend time with nice people. Very busy in the front [of the cafe].
Do you like living at L’Arche? I do.
What do you like about it? Nice persons. Spending time with my family.
Is L’Arche your family? Yes. Two houses [the Ember and the Hearth].
Hello and welcome to the L’Arche Belfast Community’s blog, which we are launching along with our new website. We have experienced a lot of growth in the past two years, as we have expanded our work projects, opened another house, “The Hearth”, on the Ormeau Road, and welcomed more members into our midst. Our website is a reflection of this growth, and it will provide visitors with a better idea of what L’Arche Belfast is, and what it means to be part of a L’Arche community.
It is my hope that this blog will become the storybook of the Community, a place where anyone who is part of L’Arche Belfast can share their stories, photos, and experiences. As we move together through the many joys and challenges of living life together, it is the stories and shared experiences which unite us (and provide us with endless entertainment). So, L’Arche Belfast — I hand this blog over to you, and look forward to seeing the many chapters that follow.
–Scott
