Tenants of Choice Housing, one of the largest housing associations in Northern Ireland, have enjoyed a trip back in time with a special visit to the Ulster Folk Museum.
Over two days (March 2/3), a group of over 350 people comprising tenants, relatives, and close friends of the Association’s shared housing schemes, toured the museum near Belfast to find out more about their shared history and heritage.
This was told through the Stone Soup story – a tale about a traveller who encourages villagers to contribute their resources to a communal stew, meaning everyone gets more than they would from their individual items by combining their resources.
The event was organised by Choice and open to tenants from their seven shared housing developments - the event was supported by the Department for Communities (DfC) and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme. The Programme has its origins in the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy which reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society. £13M has been invested in the Choice Housing, shared housing developments and associated five-year Good Relations Plans and Advisory Groups have been established to support delivery of the plans.
As people walked around the living museum, which first opened its doors to the public in 1964, they visited a blacksmith, bakery, carpenter, shoemaker, bicycle repair shop, post office and more whilst collecting the various ingredients required to make their very own co-created ‘Stone Soup’.
Entertainment and music was also organised, with visitors and Choice staff getting the chance to catch-up with one another and enjoy freshly cooked hot food.
Cyril Moorhead, Choice’s Good Relations Officer, said:
“We were delighted to be able to welcome over 350 Choice tenants, their family and friends to Cultra just outside Belfast. For many of them it was their first visit to the Ulster Folk Museum.
“It was an opportunity for men and women, boys and girls, to explore the history of the ‘Stone Soup’ concept that was provident in years gone by, rediscover our heritage and leave knowing that when we all work together, we can achieve outcomes that can benefit everyone.
“It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for those people who came along during the course of the two-day event.
Billy Millar, Choice Tenant, Ballymena
“Choice have brought so many of us together at this fantastic event. It has been really interesting visiting the museum and connecting with our neighbours and wider community.”
An element of much of the good relations work carried out by Choice is identifying the challenges local communities are facing and using this to develop tailored projects that support these areas. This can often involve the housing association collaborating with partners and other organisations to deliver beneficial community relations.
