Braid hangs Art to celebrate young people’s Creative Futures in Ballymena

by Gráinne Connolly

The New Leaf Hub CIC held an exhibition at the braid, Ballymena, on the 7^th April 2018 to showcase the exceptional work achieved by the young artists from VOYPIC (Voices Of Young People in Care).


The New Leaf Hub is a fledgling Community Interest Company (not for profit) based on the Carniny Road in Ballymena, run by Diane Wilson and Mark McIntyre.

The core reason being to offer a new way of interacting within the community ; to run programs for young people focussed on alternative arts and activities as part of an early intervention strategy and to boost their self-confidence and sense of belonging in the community. 

A spokesperson for The New Leaf Hub said: 

"The exhibition was well attended with each young person receiving a certificate of achievement for their imaginative artistic storyboard.

"One young participant called Ruby, is quoted to have said, with a grin ‘Mark, you’re still not funny you know’.

"To which the other participants responded, ‘He is sometimes’."

The guardians of the young people stated that they were really impressed with the time and effort dedicated to the course and that the young people want do much more with the New leaf Hub.

The Creative Futures program lasts for six weeks and is dependent on funding as ideally, the courses are free at point of use (see the funding page of the New Leaf Hub website to contribute), however, between programs NLH continues with (paid) bridging sessions on Saturdays, between 10am and 1pm (refreshments etc provided). 

All young people who enjoy creating, making, arting, acting, singing, performing, joking, laughing and making new friends while boosting confidence and sense of place etc are welcome to attend.