The COVID-19 Recovery Revitalisation Fund

67 per cent respondents to surveys undertaken after the improvements agreed that they were satisfied with the interventions taken by the Council to respond to safety issues raised by the Covid-19 pandemic 60 per cent of survey respondents agreed/strongly agreed that improvements undertaken through the programme would encourage people to live, work and invest in this area. 

88 per cent of businesses surveyed were satisfied or very satisfied that the funding enabled them to take measures to enhance public confidence as a result of safety issues raised by the pandemic.

Covid Recovery Grants

Belfast City Council awarded over £800,000 in grants to more than 450 businesses in the city. The purpose of the grants was to support businesses to re-open or continue to operate safely during and after the pandemic.

Businesses ranged in size from small local shops to much larger service organisations, from the relatively new to the well established. What all the businesses who sought and secured support had in common was the need to take proactive steps to ensure their customers and staff had confidence in their safety.

Funding was invested in items ranging from hand sanitising stations to perspex screens, and IT equipment to fogging machines, whatever equipment businesses found they needed in order to continue to trade through and beyond the pandemic. As businesses were already under pressure, many would not have had the resources to purchase these items without funding. And without these items they would not have been able to trade safely.

The funding investment has helped to secure the sustainability of businesses across the city which can now begin to thrive again. 

Fountain Plaza

The Fountain Plaza project involved the installation of large parasols, privacy screens and planters on the pavement area on Fountain Street. The creation of this outside dining space enabled the restaurant to trade at 50 per cent capacity while still adhering to social distancing requirements. Since the scheme has been implemented it has rejuvenated the area, with other businesses also using their outside spaces to make Fountain Plaza a vibrant place to be and encourage people into the area to socialise.

Flaxx Social Space, Brunswick Street

The new Flaxx Social Space in Brunswick Street, which was delivered through funding to the Linen Quarter Business Improvement District, has created a contemporary space where people can meet, partake of some refreshments and enjoy the entertainment on offer. This innovative development which includes a pedestrianised section, the installation of outdoor seating, lighting and a small stage will provide a relaxing environment with on site hospitality until 11.00pm seven days a week. Located in the heart of a busy commercial district it will give office workers and visitors to the city a vibrant and comfortable space to rest a while. Already popular, it is anticipated that spaces like this will bring vibrancy to parts of the city centre where people don’t usually spend much time and act as a catalyst for more regeneration in the surrounding areas.

Ballynafeigh Parklet

Ballynafeigh Community Development Association is based on the Ormeau Road in South Belfast. Its imposing building opposite Ormeau Park has been at the heart of the community for decades, but when the pandemic struck, it, like other community buildings across the city, was forced to close.

As BCDA prepares to re-open its premises to the public, the bespoke parklet in front of the building is a way to extend the community connections which happen inside the building to the outside. It provides not just a place to sit, but also meeting point, a starting point for a walk or a cycle, or a resting place to enjoy a takeaway coffee. Enjoyed by old and young alike it transforms what was just a wide pavement into a community space in the truest sense of the term.

Sans Souci Residents Association

The residents of Sans Souci in South Belfast felt that the Malone Road had lost its appeal as place to walk. Dominated by concrete and commercial premises the local residents felt the area lacked colour and greenery, and from this the Malone Gateway Project was born. Mobilising volunteers who included residents, university students and the staff of local businesses, the Malone Gateway is a community planting project stretching from Methodist College to the Queens Elms. Supported by local businesses, and implemented by local people, trees, shrubs and plants have been placed at a number of locations along the road.

Not only has the project brought a splash of colour, and improvements in the environment in the area, it has also improved relationships between the businesses in the area and local residents. There is now a shared sense of owning and caring for the local environment to make it a pleasant space for everyone.

Lower Malone is a much greener area with a variety of unusual trees and shrubs planted along the road, wildflower seeds planted around trees brought out 20 volunteers to clear and sow. People stop and talk and take walks along the road. A rampage by a vandal this week brought out the local community to fix and replant. (Sans Souci Residents)

North Belfast Working Men's Club

Lockdown restrictions had had a negative effect on membership at North Belfast Working Men’s club, so in order to get members back, an outdoor area was created with furniture, planting and landscaping, to create an attractive and useable outdoor space. Other improvements included enhancements to the bowling green and new tarmac and ramped access. The funding has enabled the club to provide disabled access to an underused but unique resource. More importantly, it has energised club members who, having missed the club during lockdown, volunteered their time to clean, to lay stones and to paint as part of this project Having enabled better access to the Club, and now facilitating more and better family events, the Club Trustees have seen more people attending the club from across age groups. As more people become aware of this valuable community resource, which there is nothing similar to in the surrounding area, the number of users and bookings has increased helping to sustain the club, which had been at risk of closing, into the longer term. 

The Flax Street Courtyard Local History Regeneration Project

The Flax Street project centred around a local history project explaining the story of the Mill industry and based on ‘The women who made Belfast’. The project allowed the group to highlight the women and the significant role they played in the local area. A number of history boards were installed telling the stories of the Mills and the part the local women played in their development.

The wider community and local groups were fully involved in the planning and design of all aspects of the project. This gave local residents and groups ownership which can now be seen in how well used the space is. Lighting was installed, transforming the area from a dark, unwelcoming and unused space into a warm and inviting space for all users. Planters helped to transform the look and feel of the area, and the local nursery children now use these to learn about plants and herbs. Seating was installed which is used by local groups at lunch time and youth groups in the evening, as well as being a meeting point for local people.

The community, including children and youth groups now view and use the area as a space of their own.

We believe that our project has been very successful in bringing about the changes we wanted to achieve. What was once a dark and unused courtyard yard has now been transformed in a bright, safe and well used community area, the change has been nothing short of remarkable. (Cairde Ard Eoin)

Saints Youth Club

The new community garden at Saints Youth Club is truly owned and valued by the young people who regularly attend the centre. Including benches, landscaping and safety fencing, perhaps the most important element of the garden is the planters and flower beds.

Young people who come to the centre have a freedom in this new outdoor space which they don’t have when indoors in the youth centre. They are learning new skills in planting and growing plants and vegetables and herbs. They are promoting their garden to the local community, asking for support and donations and committing to giving the produce they grow back to their local community.

The wellbeing benefits of the garden are already being seen by youth workers who describe how the young people thrive in the garden and how the connection with nature can be grounding for those who might be struggling.

We have been able to create two tranquil areas that people can use when visiting the club either as members, spectators, visitors or local community. (Sarsfields GAC)

 

The project has been and will continue to be a great success and a positive initiative brought into our community to continue to promote positive mental health and wellbeing to all with the help of the funding from this grant the farm will continue to be a great source of community development and involvement.
(St James’ Farm)

The Covid-19 Recovery Revitalisation Programme invested over £4m of funding in the city to deliver the projects listed below

Physical interventions and streetscape projects

• Ballynafeigh Community Association, South Belfast, parklet type space
• Bank Square Traders, City Centre, outdoor seating, lighting and floral displays
• Beanies Convenience Store, Business Cluster Group, North Belfast, signage and lighting
• Belfast Boat Club, South Belfast, an outdoor space with gazebos, benches and seating
• Big Belmont Traders, East Belfast, additional shop front signage and lighting
• Cairde Ard Eoin, North Belfast, heritage project including story boards, seating and lighting
• Castle Street Traders, City Centre, new signage, awnings and lighting
• Cliftonville Community Regeneration Forum, North Belfast, a community garden
• Colin Trust, West Belfast, additional seating, benches and extra bins
• Donovan Rossa GAC, West Belfast, newly surfaced walking route and outdoor gym equipment
• East Belfast Mission, East Belfast, outdoor seating and canopies
• Eastside Partnership, East Belfast, heritage based wayfinding initiative
• Fountain Street Plaza, City Centre, covered parklet area
• Greater Village Regeneration Forum, South Belfast, a sensory community garden
• Hannahstown Community Association, West Belfast, improved outdoor space
• Lagmore Youth Group, West Belfast, a marquee on unused land to offer space for young people
• Lamh Dhearg GAC, West Belfast, new outdoor seating area
• Maritime Trust, City Centre, a cinema screen on containers on the maritime mile
• Mornington Community Centre, renovation works to the back of the building
• North Belfast Working Men’s Club, North Belfast, improved outdoor space
• Orpen Shopping Centre, South Belfast, surfacing improvements and signage
• Patrick Sarsfields GAC, West Belfast, a community garden and soft land scaping
• Portview Trade Centre, East Belfast, outdoor seating and lighting
• Roar and Explore, Business Cluster Group, West Belfast, signage, lighting and seating
• Sailortown Regeneration Association, North Belfast, a covered parklet space
• Saints Youth Club, West Belfast, improved outdoor space
• Sans Souci Residents Association, South Belfast, creative planting project
• St James Farm West Belfast, seating, benches, a chicken coop and polytunnel
• St Johns Pre School, West Belfast, a new outdoor space with play facilities
• The Linen Quarter BID, City Centre, parklet space on Brunswick Street
• Townsend Enterprise Park, West Belfast, improved the outside of their building
• Upper Springfield Development Trust, West Belfast, improved a derelict space
• Workwest, West Belfast, improved outdoor space
• Cathedral Quarter BID, City Centre, Union Street Pedestrianisation
• Cathedral Quarter BID, City Centre, Cathedral Quarter/Warehouse Entry
• Linen Quarter BID, City Centre, 3 parklets, Flaxx social space and interactive lighting at Brunswick Street, tree wrap lighting at Blackstaff Square
• Belfast One BID, City Centre, Church Lane and Bank Square lighting schemes, mural and planting at Cole’s Alley