The programme of the Community is flexible and has constantly been adapted to the challenges and needs around us. Staff have been appointed with special responsibility for work with youth and young adults, Christian education, community and family work, schools' work and special conferences. In order to reflect this holistic approach, we seek to work together as a team and to interweave all aspects of the work as much as possible. This has proved valuable in all sorts of ways since it often means that the Centre has groups from a variety of backgrounds and age groups meeting at any one time. The possibility of their interaction at the informal times or in the common activities of eating, recreation or worship has often added som ething special to the total experience.
Community is about that kind of interdependence.
Over the years we have developed a wide partnership with many groups and individuals in all sections of our society. This is of course always changing since we seek to avoid a dependency situation and move on to support those who wish to take new initiatives or who are simply taking a first step. Our centre is an ideal place for families to share and grow in friendship and understanding. Some of these families may be under stress such as recent bereavement, or have a member of their family imprisoned or simply be under a variety of pressures, sometimes associated with the Troubles and sometimes not. Some of those who come through the most painful experience, have at a later point proved to be the most authentic witnesses for peace in our society.