Lady Elizabeth Bloomfield
“I am very proud, as one of the Patrons of NICHS, to pay tribute to the work of the organisation over 30 years since 1972. Founded in hard and troubled times, the organisation has from its first day looked to the future with hope and confidence. Its work is rooted in the conviction that this future rests with our young people. Today not a few of those supported by NICHS in its earliest days have grown to responsible adulthood, bring to our society values of mutual respect and caring. NICHS seeks to leap across those barriers, physical and psychological, which our communities erect between themselves. In helping the young people of Northern Ireland to grow in responsibility and mutual respect, NICHS recognises no ‘no go areas'. It deserves the continuing support of us all.”
Lady Elizabeth Bloomfield
Archbishop Sean Brady
Cardinal Cahal Daly
Most Reverend Dr. Robin Eames
Sir James Galway
Reverend Harold Good OBE STM
Reverend Dean Victor Griffin
Barry McGuigan
Nuala McKeever
Nick Ross
Barry McGuigan “NICHS made an important contribution to the Peace Process long before the Good Friday Agreement. For over 30 years NICHS have been slowly bringing children from the two communities together and forming lasting friendships, teaching tolerance, respect and understanding. The inculcation of young minds is the major problem in Northern Ireland. NICHS have spent many years of hard work trying to offset and combat that. Many, many congratulations to all the hardworking staff who have stuck to the task incessantly, spreading mutual respect and patience. I hope that the government will continue to fund the devoted work of NICHS because the mark they have made on the individual lives that they have come in contact with is immeasurable”. |
The Most Reverend Dr. Robin Eames “A recent survey spelt out the tragic fact that sectarian attitudes among children as young as 8 or 9 are widespread in Northern Ireland. One of the most frightening consequences of the Troubles has been the effect on young people. It is impossible to give an accurate picture of how deep or corrosive those effects have been but evidence abounds in both communities of scars on young lives. Caught up in the tensions that have been the inheritance of history many young people have responded to paramilitary recruitment and have become ‘front-line' troops. In other instances they have been victims of retaliatory violence as well as active participants in riots. Inadequate social amenities in many working-class areas have been quoted as contributory factors but the truth remains that the youth of Northern Ireland reflect much of the historic attitudes of their forebearers. Drug and alcohol abuse have played their part in this dismal scene. It is in this scenario of dismal proportion that NICHS among others has played a vital role. No tribute to such endeavours can pay adequate tribute to the visionary and consistent work of such organisations. Far away from public pronouncements or high-level statements NICHS has been engaged on the front line bridging the gaps and building the bridges of understanding between young people. I cannot speak too highly of the achievements I have known of at first hand. This work has brought hope to many a disillusioned young person and has convinced others that members of another religious or political community are actually human. This work, largely unheralded by society at large, has confronted young people with their prejudices, compelled them to examine their fears and to take a long hard and honest look at neighbours. Undaunted by set-backs NICHS has encouraged young people to develop their self-esteem and confidence by building on their personal skills. Such issues as equality, justice, political difference and cultural identity are concepts identified in any civilised society. In Northern Ireland to be confronted by them is a new experience for many young people. NICHS has done just that. The lessons of thirty years abound. As we move on I am proud to be a Patron of such worthwhile pioneering work”. |
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NICHS is a company limited by guarantee and registered in Northern Ireland, Registration Number NI 18372, and has charitable status, Registration Number XN 48644.
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