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Young men from the Shankill and Ardoyne areas demonstrated powerful cross-community unity this week by undertaking a deep clean of the interface area at the Crumlin Road and Twaddell Avenue roundabout. This social action project, organized through R-City’s My Choice programme, proves how working together can build new friendships and break down old barriers. The initiative comes just weeks before the group travels to South Africa for further community development work.
2026/01/31
North Belfast witnessed a powerful display of community collaboration this week as young men from Shankill and Ardoyne came together to deep clean a prominent local interface.
On Wednesday evening, the group gathered at the roundabout where Twaddell Avenue meets the Crumlin Road—an area that has historically been a flashpoint. Putting divisions aside, the participants focused on improving their shared neighbourhood, carrying out litter-picking, power washing, and brushing surfaces around the Ardoyne roundabout.
Their commitment to shared civic pride drew strong praise. North Belfast MP John Finucane shared an image of the clean-up, stating that the young people “give me great hope for the future.” He added: “A powerful image of young people coming together from the Shankill and Ardoyne to take pride in their community... proving that by working together we can break down barriers and build new friendships. Well done to everyone involved!”
This “social action” evening was facilitated by the My Choice programme, a collaboration between the cross-community youth project R-City and the Holy Cross Parish's Passionist Peace Office.
This local initiative serves as important preparation for the group's upcoming international trip. In just a few weeks, the young men will travel to South Africa as part of the Belfast 2 Blanco project. There, they will engage in vital community work in the Blanco township, where previous participants have helped build homes and organized fun days for local youth. They will also spend time learning from young men who have been involved in gangs, bringing valuable lessons back to North Belfast.
Established in 2013, R-City is a cross-community youth project focusing on fostering positive relations, improving mental health, and developing leadership skills among young people from the Shankill and Ardoyne areas through education, training, and community-based activities.