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22/04/2008
Mission Struggles To Rise From Ashes
Both royal patronage and an interest by the incoming First Minister could be a plus as an east Belfast hostel struggles to recover from a major fire that that extensively damaged the premises.
Famously visited by the Queen last month, the East Belfast Mission-run facility has had to be closed temporarily after a teenager was taken to hospital on Sunday night, after escaping from the blaze on the Newtownards Road.
He was not seriously injured, but had to jump out of the first floor window of Hosford House when the fire took hold.
During the March visit, the royal party was told of details of the Skainos project, a £20m two-acre urban regeneration programme that will be located on the existing Mission site.
Accompanied by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Shaun Woodward - and welcomed by the local Westminster MP, Peter Robinson - the Queen's group were guests of honour at the East Belfast Mission.
Although fire crews responded promptly to an emergency call at 5pm and managed to stop the fire spreading to other properties, the hostel sustained extensive smoke and water damage.
Alternative accommodation had to be found for around a dozen residents who had been staying in the building.
The hostel was founded in 1985 to engage in community development and service in the Newtownards Road area and was recently boosted by news of the £20m Skainos development.
At the time, this was welcomed by East Belfast MP, Peter Robinson - who is soon to be the NI Executive First Minister - whose influence may be a help in getting the resource back into use.
Other VIP visitors to the facility included Irish President Mary McAleese who visited the East Belfast Mission on her first official visit to east Belfast, in 2003.
The Mission was developed out of the work of Newtownards Road Methodist Church, whose history of community engagement stretches back to 1826. It is the oldest and one of the largest community organisations in the area, with a staff team of 54 and a volunteer team of more than 60 people.
(BMcC)
Famously visited by the Queen last month, the East Belfast Mission-run facility has had to be closed temporarily after a teenager was taken to hospital on Sunday night, after escaping from the blaze on the Newtownards Road.
He was not seriously injured, but had to jump out of the first floor window of Hosford House when the fire took hold.
During the March visit, the royal party was told of details of the Skainos project, a £20m two-acre urban regeneration programme that will be located on the existing Mission site.
Accompanied by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Shaun Woodward - and welcomed by the local Westminster MP, Peter Robinson - the Queen's group were guests of honour at the East Belfast Mission.
Although fire crews responded promptly to an emergency call at 5pm and managed to stop the fire spreading to other properties, the hostel sustained extensive smoke and water damage.
Alternative accommodation had to be found for around a dozen residents who had been staying in the building.
The hostel was founded in 1985 to engage in community development and service in the Newtownards Road area and was recently boosted by news of the £20m Skainos development.
At the time, this was welcomed by East Belfast MP, Peter Robinson - who is soon to be the NI Executive First Minister - whose influence may be a help in getting the resource back into use.
Other VIP visitors to the facility included Irish President Mary McAleese who visited the East Belfast Mission on her first official visit to east Belfast, in 2003.
The Mission was developed out of the work of Newtownards Road Methodist Church, whose history of community engagement stretches back to 1826. It is the oldest and one of the largest community organisations in the area, with a staff team of 54 and a volunteer team of more than 60 people.
(BMcC)
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