Holy Family Youth Centre was established as a voluntary youth provision for the Newington area of North Belfast. The initial reason for the provision of the youth facility was to divert the young people’s energies into something more creative as opposed to the infamous ‘Troubles’. The Centre , over the last 26 years , has provided a much needed resource for the area and its young people.

Holy Family Youth Centre is a voluntary centre which relies on funding from various sources. The main bulk of the funding comes for the day to ay running costs and salaries come from the Belfast Education and Library Board. Any other fundraising is undertaken by the Management Committee by applying to various trusts and charities.

Holy Family Youth Centre is situated on one of Belfast’s infamous ‘inter-faces’, the Limestone Road. Without the Centre the young people would have no where to go and have little opportunity to participate in activities which allow them to develop as individuals and as members of the community.

The Youth Centre is the main youth provider in the area which has a youth population exceeding 37.5%. The area in which the centre is situated is an area considered to be at high a level of deprivation which has it’s own associated problems.

Holy Family Youth Centre seeks to provide a programme of activities which will enable young  people to grow into mature and responsible adults who will play a role in their community. We provide opportunities through programmes such as; Arts and Crafts, Personal Development, Sports, Information Technology, Community Relations, Health Education, International Opportunities, Citizenship Programmes, Environmental Programmes, etc . We also work closely with the local Primary and Secondary education providers in providing accredited training in various areas such as Information Technology and Youth Work Qualifications (OCN).

The Centre comprises of two floors. On the first floor of the Centre there is the Office where the full time youth worker and the other youth workers are based. Also there is the Arts room which is used for general arts plus funded projects such as our Cultural Awareness Programme funded by Community Relations Council. The main hall of the centre is the focus for all our socialising and general games area .The equipment in this area has been funded by various trusts throughout the years. The main feature of the room is the 7x7ft Digital screen which is used constantly for football and music channels. The Computer Suite, which was funded by the Parish and Fortwilliam CEP is always in great demand.

On the upper floor we have the Sports Hall and the newly furbished Senior Members Room (Opening September 2007). The Sports Hall is in constant use by various groups such as the Dance Group, Karate, Footballers, Netballers, Keep fit etc.