Last week, Homewards Northern Ireland brought together partners, businesses, members of the local authority and experts by experience to mark three years of working together to prevent homelessness.
Attendees came together in the Mandela Hall at Queen’s University Belfast to reflect on, and celebrate, the progress made so far, whilst also looking forward to the future as Homewards Northern Ireland.
The event gave attendees the opportunity to engage with several exciting activities, including:
- A demonstrator session from Game Academy of their video game style training which helps to improve tech & digital skills amongst young people
- Coffee art created by Change Please, a social enterprise training people experiencing homelessness to gain skills, support and employment through coffee
- An engagement session run by Voices of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) on what the future for Care Experienced Young People should look like in Northern Ireland, featuring those with lived experience
The event also featured moving poetry and singing performances from members of the Homewards co-production partnerships and VOYPIC, as well as a powerful speech from Alyson Kilpatrick, Human Rights Commissioner for Northern Ireland and Chair of the Homewards Strategic Steering Group.
Homewards Northern Ireland will continue to build on the momentum established in its first three years, accelerating successful partnerships such as the New Employment Opportunities Network (NEON), which was launched earlier this year. NEON brings together businesses, public services, and local partners to create clear, supported ways into work, unlocking opportunity for young people and strengthening the region’s workforce.
Alyson Kilpatrick, Commissioner for Northern Ireland and Chair of the Strategic Steering Group, said “Homewards is, at its core, the idea that if everyone pulls together all the right people in the right places with the right intentions, we can put an end to homelessness. It’s not inevitable.”
