St Andrew's Community Action Group

Link to St Andrew's Church


Who we are

What we do

Contact us

Trustees

About Glencairn

Funded Projects

 

WHAT WE DO

The Objectives of The Company may be summarised as “the promotion and advancement of community development, the promotion of urban regeneration, the promotion of the Christian faith, the relief of poverty, sickness and the aged and the promotion of the benefit of the inhabitants of the Glencairn area and its environs of the Greater Shankill area of Belfast” (Company’s Articles of Association, 2013)

 We seek to achieve these by raising funds to provide the following beneficial services and amenities to the public.

Community Centre (Amenity Project)

SACAG has formed a spin-off company called Glencairn Community Consortium with the Glencairn Residents association. The sole aim of this Consortium is to work closely with Belfast City Council to raise substantial capital funding to build a Glencairn Community hall. The goal of building a Sports Centre and Community Hall has been ours for several years. It now looks like at least the hall will be built. There will be progress reports when further progress in made

Service projects:

Parent and Toddler Groups

Parent and Toddler groups are held twice weekly in St Andrew’s Church Hall and in Harmony School. These are pre-school groups which aim to encourage mothers, fathers or other guardians to come along and take part in a variety of activities, which will benefit children in their development and provide social interaction and confidence building for the adults.  These activities include: crafts, music, play and story time. They provide opportunities for volunteer to develop leadership skills in play group management A small donation is requested to provide a healthy snack and defray resource costs

 The School also provides funding to hire “Jo Jingles” an organisation whose aims are to encourage the children’s development through active music.

 Lighthouse Drop in Cafe

The Lighthouse Drop-in Cafe meets in St Andrews Church Hall and provides a meeting place for people in the local community to come together. Presently a group of senior citizens from the Glencairn Day Centre attend regularly; here they get the opportunity to participate and enjoy music, quizzes and refreshments. This is supported by trained volunteers

 Children’s after School Club and Weekend Club

One group meets during Sunday service at St Andrew’s Church and is directed at children and young people between the ages of 3-12.. Here we encourage young people as they explore and learn and grow in their knowledge of the Christian faith. This is achieved by a combination of worship, interactive Bible teaching and activities, visually presenting the message of the Christian faith via multi-media system. There are volunteer helpers

 An after school kids club is aimed at primary aged children and their families. Here they can interact with other children through action songs, listening to Bible stories, arts and crafts and generally having fun

 Creative Arts Project

Statistics inform us that there is a need for youth recreation in the local area and the Creative Arts Project in partnership with Youth Initiatives would allow young people in the community to participate in an arts programme e.g. mural painting.

 Home Visitation

We would endeavour to build on our existing links with Glencairn Day Centre and develop further the operation of the Lighthouse Drop in Café, to include activities such as Arts, Crafts and Music

 Senior Citizen Outreach

The further development of the Lighthouse Cafe Drop-in and building further our partnership with the Glencairn Day Centre, through visitation, running weekly events (St Andrew’s or Day centre) therefore encouraging activities such as arts and crafts, music, etc.

Health Promotion Project

This project aims to provide services which would appeal to the needs of all the local community. It would involve Health & Wellbeing information days, weight loss programmes and exercise classes. We also hope to build a Community Pharmacy Partnership (BCPP), which, once established, would provide a drop in centre where people who are isolated can come and discuss local health and social wellbeing needs.

 Community Positive Parenting Course-

In partnership with the  Care for the Family organisation, this course  involves six two hour sessions once a week, and is geared for parents with young children. It would seek to address any practical concerns and issues and give the support parents may require when bringing up a young family.