He used to watch the kids out on the streets on the 11th night. They were making their own entertainment, their own trouble sometimes. And then he had an idea…what if these kids could be brought into a safe, controlled and fun environment on that night and what if this could become a regular community event.

Billy McCullough is a Belfast City Mission worker in east Belfast who has a passion to serve his local community. He came up with the concept of holding an event in a local park on the 11th night, where food and entertainment are offered and people of all ages come together.

Billy says that community reaction to this has been so positive. He loves seeing people of all ages come together to chat and share with each other and he feels it’s a concept which could be replicated in other areas: “When I was younger there was a bonfire and nearly on every street and I think that localised idea of celebration really works.”

At a time in our province’s cultural calender when many choose to leave for sunnier climes here is one man, with the help of a team of volunteers, who is choosing to get involved in the local community: “We want people to see that we care and that we are just regular people like them.”