Volunteer Locally with Habitat NI & Helm Housing

For 21 years, Habitat for Humanity Northern Ireland has been building hope.

They work where it matters most; at the heart of communities. When they bring people together to practically support their work they break down barriers and create stronger communities where everyone has the opportunity to grow.

In 2015, Helm Housing are excited to continue our innovative partnership with Habitat for Humanity Northern Ireland and we want you to be part of it!

Over the coming months, well be working on community-building projects at Mount Vernon, North Belfast and Cairndale, West Belfast.

These projects will use Habitats cross-community, participatory approach to bring empty homes back to life and support community regeneration. 

They build on the success of the partnership project off the Antrim Road last year which brought 6 empty homes back to life and engaged 145 volunteers from across the community. These are now home to new tenants who are enjoying the opportunity the new homes provide to build a brighter future.

By engaging local groups of volunteers on these projects, the partnership generated local interest in the homes and created a link between local people and future tenants, which should lead to stable and long term tenancies.

The project starts at Mount Vernon on the week being the 2nd February and we need your help! Over eight weeks, well be refurbishing four apartments to provide older people with a sheltered housing opportunity in the area.

Helm and Habitat NI are ready to welcome a wide range of corporate and community volunteers onsite to help out with tasks such as stripping and clearing the site, basic carpentry and painting. No experience is necessary as Habitat construction supervisors are on-hand to provide all the support you need.

This is a fantastic opportunity to get your hands dirty, build your team and help strengthen local communities. You will see a dramatic impact, both physically and socially.

During the first week there are volunteer opportunities on the Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday; and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for the following seven weeks. Each day work begins at 9:30am and ends at 4:30pm

Volunteers who participated on the Antrim Road project last year said:

• The most enjoyable day I had all year
• A chance to make a difference for local people

For further information or to sign up please contact Gillian at gillianw@habitatni.co.uk and 028 92 635 635.

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