Projects Case Studies : Client List

Case Study: St Matthew’s Parish, Belfast

St Matthew’s, in the Woodvale area of Belfast, invited CREED to help the parish develop a strategy for re-engaging with the surrounding community. With an aging congregation, a beautiful church, an antiquated hall, and very limited space for further development, there seemed to be few options available.

After initial contact with CREED in the summer of 2009, the parish undertook a community audit of the whole parish. The subsequent report, prepared with CREED, identified the provision of various services as of possible benefit to age groups from parents and toddlers to senior citizens. Putting this together with the capacity of the parish, a subsequent two-year action plan identified expansion of the existing mother-and-toddlers’ group and the development of a ministry with senior citizens as first steps.

Implementation has been greatly facilitated by the part-time secondment of Trevor Douglas, Manager of the Jethro Centre in Lurgan. A core group of parishioners has been recruited to assist with the Mother-and-Toddlers, and St Matthew’s Community Seniors Ministry has attracted a group of volunteers who run monthly events in the church and hall.

Case Study: Youth Initiatives

The Youth Initiatives leaders approached CREED to help them improve the buildings they use for the faithful work they have been undertaking in Poleglass for over twenty years. The existing humble buildings continue to serve their youth outreach programme but they needed a "home" that was more suitable than an army nissan hut to ensure the work can continue for many years to come.

The leadership team of YI needed assistance to obtain funding for a new building . CREED worked with them to clarify their vision for the future and created an action plan for the way forward, and worked along side different experts and consultants to help YI get a grant approved for a new purpose-built building.

Currently CREED is working with YI to obtain suitable title to the land on which the new building will be constructed, and then once the building starts we will enable them to engage with the right people to manage the construction phase of the project.

CREED has found it a privilege to witness the awesome work that the YI people have faithfully and obediently undertaken in North Belfast - changing lives for ever.