Meet our new American Volunteer

Greetings. My name is Joel Pier-Fitzgerald and I will be working at the VINE Centre for the next year. I will be working as a part of the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) programme which is sponsored through the Presbyterian Church USA. I am from Holland, Michigan in the United States and am very excited to be here in Northern Ireland. Holland is a small industrial city on the shores of Lake Michigan. I just graduated from Albion College in Albion Michigan with a degree in Religious Studies. As part of the YAV programme, I will be working part of the week at the Vine and the other part of the week at Cooke Centenary Presbyterian Church. I will help out with a variety of activities at both sites. I look forward to living in Belfast and sharing in ministry at the VINE Centre and Cooke.

We are saying goodbye to a valuable member of staff next June here at the Vine Centre so we thought it was important to mention this now on our blog spot.

Bill Whitley - Advice Services Manager attended the Management Committee meeting on 18th September 2008 together with Mr Trevor Cummings - Director of the Vine Centre and Mr Stephen Reid - Centre Manager.

Bill Whitley announced his intention to retire from the Vine Centre in the summer of 2009 after 11 years of valuable work with the Vine. Bill will be 65 in June and feels it is now time to hang up his hat as Advice Manager.

Rev Jack Drennan chaired the Management Committe Meeting.

Has summer really ended?

Hi everyone

Summer is coming to a end! Well not sure if we could call it summer but a new term has started here at the Vine Centre. Lots of new programmes and events are going to be happening over the next few months so keep checking our blog spot so that we can keep you updated.

Goodbye from American Volunteer

Hello all-

I have had the privilege of being the American volunteer this year at The Vine Centre. As I start to pack up my bags to return home, I wanted to say farewell and thank you to all of those at The Vine that have made my experience here in N. Ireland what it has been, incredible. 

Never have I been fortunate enough to work in a place quite like The Vine Centre. The people that work at the Vine are just wonderful and their commitment to serving the community constantly inspires me. 

I will very much miss my time in Belfast, and most importantly, The Vine. I wish all of my co-workers and friends at The Vine continued success and loads of thanks for all that you have done for me this year.

Blessings and peace.

Love, 

Melissa Wheeler 

Welcome

Welcome to the Vine Centre's blog page.

This site will serve to let the community know the programmes we offer and make information available to all about our mission and commitment to serving the community.

At the Vine Centre we have many programmes including:

• Advice Services
• Afterschools Playclub
• Bulrush Day Nursery
• Family Education, Training & Employablity
• Senior Citizens
• Volunteering
• Youth
• Pastoral Care

We are funded by:

• Belfast City Council
• Belfast Education & Library Board
• Belfast Local Strategy Partnership
• Belfast Regeneration Office
• Children's Fund
• Community Foundation for Northern Ireland#
• DSD Voluntary & Community Unit
• Phoenix Trust
• Playboard DHSSPS Funding
• Urban II Programme
• YouthNet

We also receive donations from:

• Board of Social Witness
• Christian Endeavour
• Northern Bank Employees Charities Group
• TBF Thompson Trust
• Thales Foundation

In addition to those listen above, the Management Committee of the Vine Centre would like to thank the many churches, church organizations and individuals who provide donations towards the work of the organization over the course of each year.