VIEW, Issue six, 2012


Website: viewdigital.org


Fighting poverty in Belfast and beyond


Page 20


Brian Pelan talks to Alan Carson about the challenges facing his Storehouse charity Support Alan Carson in Storehouse’s new premises in Belfast city centre


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Founder member Alan Carson, who is pas- sionate about his work told me that the Storepro- ject was set up four years ago by the church he belongs to, Vineyard. “Our church has always had a massive heart


ome organisations seem to go quietly about their work when it comes to providing aid to those in need. The Storehouse charity is firmly in that category.


store to talk about their needs, which might in- clude being provided with clothes, food or furniture.


shop that we wouldn’t wear ourselves.” Alan added: “We have noticed a definite in-


for the most vulnerable in our city. We had spent a number of years exploring different areas and dif- ferent forms of poverty. We look at the gaps that were not being met. It became quickly apparent that food poverty was not being addressed on a wide scale.” Around 50 organisations, including charities,


community groups, statutory agencies and churches, now work with Storehouse around the issue of food poverty. Mr Carson said: “Initially, some organisations


they could see that Storehouse’s main function was to act as a food distribution centre on behalf of the needy. We collect the food from a number of sources, including churches and schools. We also welcome food donations from the general public.


“But that concern was soon overcome as


were hesitant about linking up with Storehouse who they felt would perhaps proselytise on behalf of Vineyard.


dancy so we control how many food parcels we will issue.


from us include the elderly, refugees, the homeless and people suffering from addiction problems. We deliver the food to the organisations who then dis- tribute to the people who use their services. Alan said: “Our new recently opened store at


Castle Arcade in Belfast city centre is another step in the development of Storehouse.


“The sort of groups who will receive aid “We don’t want to create long term depen- “Our policy is not to have anything in the


crease in the number of people struggling to make basic needs.”


• Storehouse partners with many differ- ent charities and agencies throughout Belfast, who work day in and day out with families and individuals in difficult situations.


• Through these partnerships Store- house forms connections with those most genuinely in need. Often, through no fault of their own, or through poor choices, they've found themselves caught in cycles of poverty that seem impossible to break. Storehouse aims to help break those cycles by providing emergency food packages for a set pe- riod of time.


For further details go to the Storehouse website at www.storehousebelfast.com


Image: Kevin Cooper “People who are referred to us can visit the


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