Stuart, Joel, Thomas, Mark, John, James, Dean.  Seven friends with a dream for Belfast.  Seven guys with a passion to see city neighbours become friends…
‘Everyday Belfast’ is an idea which began in student circles at Queens University in September 2010.  Stuart Bothwell, was one of of the initiators:  “I guess we saw that student culture [...]

The tattered old book sat in the middle of the vintage style stage, bursting with stories which would soon be told.  The photographs and art were in place, the musicians and story-tellers ready.  And then the Black Box in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter started to fill up.  There was a buzz in the air.  The city [...]

He’d had enough.  Felt like there was no point in struggling on.  This was it.
David* had been finding university tough for the last few months but couldn’t see any other alternative for his life.  He felt like he’d just have to keep going, hoping that something better was on the way.  But to him it [...]

Autumn was turning to winter, the nights were noticeably colder and darker, but that didn’t deter those sleeping in their cars in a Belfast church car park for the night; they were taking part in a national act of solidarity to highlight the cause of those broken by debt.
It may seem like a crazy idea, [...]

They were two red-coats at the end of their shift on the streets of Belfast; they’d got the usual amount of hassle and very few smiles. Then they were approached by a group who made a strange request;  these people offered them the chance to have their photos taken for free.   The two men [...]

The smell of the burgers filled the whole room.  Those who were in the room seemed to regret not taking up the offer of a free burger, writes Steve Caldwell. It was 8pm and the magnificent Donegal sunset crept under the blanket of darkness that was about to cover as far as the eye could [...]

It was never how she dreamt she would be spending her 46th birthday; sitting in a little house in Belfast with two transvestites, sharing a meal and laughing alot.  And as they partied together Jacqui knew there was nowhere else she’d rather be.
The encounter came about through Jacqui Robb’s work with Hope Ministries.  The Monkstown [...]

‘She’ is not so different from me, really. Sure, our worlds are like night and day: one English living comfortably, the other Irish, living in hardship, taking drugs and waiting for the next punter to squirm into her life for a few horrendous moments.  But there is a chord that binds our hearts together…. writes Susan [...]

“I’d never crossed to the other side of the street - because that was ‘the other side’.”  The heartfelt words of one of the storytellers at our recent Tales from the City event.  It was a night of quality music, positive stories, warm chat, coffee and treats.  It was a night where hope was voiced.
Andrew’s [...]

Well, what can I tell you about Shaw Street?  We moved here nearly two years ago while I was heavily pregnant with my son, Teddy.  It’s just a regular terraced street in east Belfast with its own wee unspoken rules… writes Janette Myles.
These little rules included the fact that cars on the left can park [...]