A multi-agency meeting in Ardoyne organised by North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA and junior minister Gerry Kelly was aimed at focusing minds and hearts ahead of the summer.
The meeting of Ardoyne community workers, clerics, teachers, civil servants, the Irish government, politicians and police took place in Holy Cross family centre.
“It was very well attended. We are coming into the summer and we wanted to make sure everyone was focused in terms of the issues facing the area. We felt an appropriate time to do it was after Easter,” said the republican representaive.
“The theme of the meeting was to have a collective approach to the difficulties facing Ardoyne and the greater Ardoyne area.
“It is an area of deprivation, with sporadic attacks at interfaces and anti social behaviour issues. We need a joined-up approach especially if we want to regenerate. You are much stronger if you take a collective approach."
Sinn Fein councillors and MLAs, PSNI, community workers from Ardoyne, youth workers and providers, school principals Terry Laverty, Kevin Gough and PJ O'Grady, Father Ciaran Dallat from Sacred Heart, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, Fire Service, North Belfast Community Action Unit and Community Restorative Justice were all present.
A further meeting is to take place on Friday May 8.
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