The efforts of a Belfast community to create social change has been recognised with a peace award.
The Witness for Peace Group was established by the Rev Joseph Parker after his son was killed in Belfast on Bloody Friday in 1972. In 1975 prize of £500 went to the Director of the Corrymeela Community. This year, the prize has been awarded to the community shop a project established in Ardoyne. The community shop on Alliance Avenue was set up by local people in two bombed out shops in 1971. The buildings now provide facilities for all ages, including a pensioners' lunch club, a playgroup for children, and a disco for teenagers. A swimming group and a games group are also based in the community shop which is run by a committee of members from the different groups.
Treasurer of the community shop, Ann Sloan, explains how the activities work to promote peace.
We think that involving people in their own community, in doing positive, useful work, that we're helping to form a stable society in Northern Ireland.
Ann Sloan says that there are similar community groups throughout Northern Ireland, all striving for the same goal. While the groups are representative of all age groups and religious backgrounds, Ann Sloan says that there are not too many Protestant children involved. Mothers do not like their children to come through the barricades at night.
Despite the fact that the community shop presents itself as a centre for peace, it has been the target for attack.
We are totally against the use of violence to achieve people's ends. We think that social change can be brought about in a reasonable way.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 26 January 1976. The reporter is Olivia O'Leary.
