An 11-year-old carer from Co Down is one of a group of young people taking to the Ulster Hall stage in aid of a local charity who have become a "lifeline." Sólás is a charity helping young people who have additional needs, and also offers support for their families.
They run programmes including early years intervention, after-school clubs, homework clubs, and adult and children's counselling. Due to demand for services growing in recent years, the charity now needs a new building at its headquarters on Ormeau Road.
Last year, they were hoping to receive £800,000 from Belfast City Council's Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund towards the project, however, they initially received £24,744, leaving a shortfall of £492,000. The charity has been working hard to fundraise, by launching a GoFundMe page, and through a range of initatives from service users.
Read more: Belfast boy climbing Swiss mountain to raise funds for special needs charity
Read more: Belfast charity launches £490k appeal after council funding blow
Later this week, a group of young people will take to the stage at Ulster Hall for 'An Evening of Music in Support of Sólás.' Violet Allen, 11, from the Castlereagh area will be one of those involved.
Violet and her family have forged a close relationship with the team at the South Belfast based charity, as her younger brother Jacob (10) began visiting Sólás in 2020, at first taking part in their annual summer scheme, before then attending regularly during the week and on Saturday’s.
Jacob's mum Lynsey explained: “We found that everywhere we took Jacob, he was being turned away. The clubs we took him to were doing their very best but just simply weren’t equipped to cater for his needs.
"Jacob had become very quiet, communicating verbally less and less. But then we found Sólás. After that initial summer school, he was like a different little boy. He came out of his shell and we felt so reassured that from then on, he had a place he could go where he was accepted for who he was.”
Following this, Violet joined the charity’s siblings group with whom she will be singing at the upcoming concert in the Ulster Hall. Now mum Lynsey also visits the centre regularly to spend time with other parents and guardians who care for young people on the autistic spectrum.
Lynsey added: "Sólás has now also become a lifeline for my husband Chris and I. It hasn’t always been easy helping Jacob find his place and the charity has helped us immeasurably in dealing with our thoughts and feelings as parents.
"For Violet, as a young carer who helps to look after brother, it’s also been invaluable. She’s met others experiencing the same things, learned more about how brother sees the world and now is an advocate amongst her peers – sharing what she knows with others at school and beyond. We are so proud of them both and can’t wait to attend with Jacob at the Ulster Hall to see his sister singing and signing on stage.”
The musical concert in aid of the autism and additional needs charity has been organised by fellow Sólás parent India Chapman-Webb and will help the organisation strive towards their goal of building a tailor-made community facility in Belfast.
“Music is a huge part of my life” explained India. “I regularly perform with NI Opera and I wanted to share that passion with the young people and parents from Sólás, celebrate everything the charity does and try and help give back as much as we can.”
The line-up for the concert includes The Cross Border Youth Orchestra, Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble; M’ANAM; The Ulster Consort and Northern Ireland Opera; as well as the children and youth of Sólás who will perform a new piece by local composer Matthew Owens. The programme will be introduced by local broadcasting legend Noel Thompson who is also a keen supporter of the charity.
“The Ulster Hall has proven to be the perfect place for us,” India continued, “not only because of the rich musical heritage associated with the space but because the team there have been able to accommodate us with tailored spaces around the building to help our young people feel settled and all our musical acts. We can’t wait for everyone to join us for a wonderful celebration of music and our special community.”
An Evening of Music in Support of Sólás will take place at the Ulster Hall on Saturday 15 February at 6.30pm. Tickets available at ulsterhall.co.uk.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
English (United States) ·