Mornington Community project

A PLACE FOR EVERYONE

SHARED SPACE SHARED FUTURE

Mornington has a 35-year history of being a shared space, intentionally welcoming people of all faiths, backgrounds and ages. Located on a key arterial route in South Belfast, it supports people living under difficult circumstances — many facing unemployment, underachievement in education, or low confidence and hope for the future.

WORKING WHERE IT’S NEEDED MOST

RESPONDING TO CHALLENGE

Mornington works in one of the most deprived areas not only of Belfast, but of the whole of Northern Ireland. High levels of poverty, drug use, under-employment and educational under-attainment affect many residents, alongside a growing asylum seeker and migrant population.

SOUTH BELFAST ROOTS

Mornington Community Project is based in South Belfast in one of the city’s most diverse and thriving areas. The project offers a range of services which regularly change to meet the needs of the Lower Ormeau and wider area.

CHANGING COMMUNITIES

FROM DIVISION TO DIVERSITY

Inner South Belfast includes Lower Ormeau, the Markets and Donegal Pass — historically divided along community lines. Today, it’s becoming a melting pot of cultures, ethnicities, and students. Mornington, born out of a cross-community partnership, continues to offer a safe, shared space for everyone.

WELLBEING & GROWTH

THE NURTURING PROGRAMME

Mornington’s Nurturing Programme is our response to these challenges, offering social support, mentoring, and help to improve wellbeing. Many issues faced in the area stem from the legacy of the Troubles and the urban decay that followed.

SUPPORTING TEENS

A SPACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

We work in partnership to provide the best, most cost-effective services. Mornington’s latest expansion includes A Teen Cafe Space and a Nurturing Resilience in Teens Programme, for parents addressing the complex issues involved in raising teens in the current climate.

BUILDING CONNECTIONS

LOCAL FAITH FORUM

Other programmes include a local Faith Forum. It provides opportunities for local faith leaders to explore potential partnerships and social enterprise opportunities and a partnership with QUB, UU and Union colleges encouraging and challenging emerging faith leaders to explore creative partnerships to engage effectively with local community without duplicating services.

A WARM WELCOME

COSY HUB DROP-IN

We are also operating a warm bank. Our Cosy Hub Drop-in service (Friday 11.30 to 1.30) is free to anybody wanting a cuppa, bowl of soup or just some friendly company. It also operates as an emergency food bank.

LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES

COMMUNITY OFFICE SPACE

We offer office space to local businesses, either long term or to hire for meetings etc to promote the social economy. Currently the offices are used by a firm that offers software support and by Partisan Productions, which is a professional theatre and film production company committed to creating socially engaged art.
The space is also home to a printing and distribution business, Belfast Mail and Marketing.