In a city with a complex history of division, a quiet revolution is taking place. A community initiative in Belfast is directly confronting racism and building bridges between people of different races, classes, and faiths. For participants like Maureen Hamblin, it has been a transformative experience that restored her faith in others.
A Microcosm of Belfast Challenging Stereotypes
The project, called the Circle of Change, is the brainchild of the 174 Trust, a charity based in north Belfast's New Lodge area. This is an interface zone between Catholic and Protestant housing estates that saw intense violence during the Troubles. The charity, operating from the Duncairn centre for culture and arts, launched the first circle in 2018.
"We try to create a microcosm of Belfast in each group. We want to challenge stereotypes," said Tim Magowan, the chief executive of 174 Trust. Each year, a new circle of about a dozen people is formed. They meet monthly around Belfast to share personal stories and raise funds for organisations promoting tolerance.
For Maureen Hamblin, a black woman originally from Kenya, joining the fifth circle in 2024 was a pivotal moment. She had experienced racism in many forms, from overt aggression to the painful silence of bystanders. "It's not just the smashing in of shop windows," she explained. "It can be quiet, it can be silent." This 'bystander effect', even in progressive spaces like her local church, left her feeling isolated and drained.
Sharing Stories to Humanise and Heal
Within the circle, Hamblin shared her experiences of racist abuse, which were met with shock by other members. In turn, she listened to their stories. The group comprised individuals from vastly different backgrounds—some privileged, others who had faced deprivation and exclusion. This shared space revealed a powerful commonality: Belfast was their home, and it should be welcoming for all.
"It restored my hope. It humanised us all," said Hamblin. Fellow member Suzanne Lagan, from a middle-class Catholic background, found herself visiting parts of the city, like an east Belfast food shelter, that were far from her usual experience. "The more uncomfortable we felt the happier they [the organisers] were," she recalled with a laugh.
The impact of these shared narratives is profound. Liza Wilkinson, 48, from a working-class Protestant background, gained a new understanding of homelessness after hearing from a young member who had lived on the streets. She was also heartbroken to hear an African mother matter-of-factly describe white youths throwing dog excrement at her children.
From Conversation to Tangible Change and Hope
The circles translate dialogue into direct action through fundraising. The inaugural 2018 circle raised £50,000 for after-school care for black children. The 2024 circle supported Tunes Translated, a scheme teaching traditional Irish music to immigrants, refugees, and natives alike.
"Music transcends language barriers and gives a sense of cohesion and belonging," said Catherine Crean, 30, who runs the scheme. She noted one member's surprise: "he'd never realised that Muslims could be good craic." Crean argues such initiatives are vital, especially as race hate incidents in Northern Ireland this year were the third highest on record.
For peace activist and circle member Tony Macaulay, 62, Northern Ireland's history offers a lesson in hope. "We used to think that the Troubles would never end, that peace would never come. But it did come. Things can turn around." He and Hamblin even collaborated on TikTok vignettes titled 'Paperboy and Kenya Girl', blending his literary readings with her singing.
Tim Magowan finds hope in the power of local, personal action. He reflects that thousands of small, individual acts contributed to ending the political violence of the Troubles. "I can't do anything about what happens at international level but I can turn up here and do what I can at a personal level. I genuinely believe that's where change comes from."
As a member of Locality, a partner in the Guardian's 2025 Hope charity appeal, the 174 Trust will receive a grant to further develop its work bridging community divisions. In a society with deep sectarian and racial faultlines, the Circle of Change stands as a powerful antidote to silence, hate, and growing division, proving that community action can indeed confront racism and restore hope.
