TILII’s Visit to Belfast City Hall

TILII and Politics

Telling It Like It Is (TILII) are Experts By Experience.  And they know about a lot of things.  For example they worked hard to raise awareness about politics and why it’s important to vote.  And this was because of the recent general election. But they wanted to think more about Northern Ireland.  And learn more about NI politics and the people that make decisions.  This includes Members of the Legislative Assembly and Councillors in local Councils.

TILII’s Visit to Belfast City Hall

TILII visited Belfast City Hall to learn about the difference between a councillor and an MLA. Because this was a fantastic opportunity to ask questions and get a clearer picture of who does what!

Councillor

There are 11 councils that cover Northern Ireland.  These are:

•  Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
• Ards and North Down Council
• Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
• Belfast City Council
• Causeway Coast and Glens Council
• Derry and Strabane Council
• Fermanagh and Omagh Council
• Lisburn and Castlereagh Council
• Mid and East Antrim Council
• Mid Ulster Council
• Newry, Mourne and Down Council

Can you find out which one you’re in?

In each Council there are councillors.  And these are people voted into Council by local people. And this includes you, but you must vote!

A councillor is someone we elect to look after the things that happen right in our local area. Imagine if the bins aren’t being collected, the parks need some TLC, or there’s a new building going up – that’s where a councillor can help! They work in the local council and deal with things like:

• Parks and playgrounds
• Sports & Leisure Centres
• Rubbish and recycling
• Local housing

Councillors focus on the things we see every day around us.

MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly)

A MLA works on bigger issues that affect everyone in Northern Ireland, not just one town or area. They are elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly and help make decisions about:

• Schools and education
• Health services (like hospitals)
• Roads and public transport

So, while a councillor takes care of our local community, an MLA helps make the rules for the whole of Northern Ireland!  Have a look at our MLA’s talking about the draft model for delivering services for people with a learning disability across Northern Ireland.

We also learned some cool facts about the history of Belfast City Hall. Did you know it was opened in 1906? It’s over 100 years old and was built to celebrate Belfast becoming a city. The beautiful architecture and its big dome make it one of the most famous buildings in Belfast. Inside, there are stunning rooms and even a memorial garden outside, which honours important events in Northern Ireland’s history.

While we were there, we explored the exhibits, Alex, who’s a huge football fan, was especially excited to see his idol, George Best, featured in the exhibition. The City Hall is full of amazing stories about famous people from Northern Ireland, including stars from theatre, sports, music, and more!  If you want to learn more you can have a guided tour, click to buy tour tickets or you can walk round at your leisure like we did, as there are plenty of interactive exhibits.

A Sweet Stop at The Bobbin Café

After our tour, we relaxed at The Bobbin Café – a super cozy spot!  Fun fact: the café got its name after a 2009 City Hall refurbishment, where 1,400 people voted in an online poll to name it. The name celebrates Belfast’s once-thriving linen industry. A bobbin is a little cylinder used to wind thread – how cool is that?

The café is run by Loaf Catering and Cafes a social enterprise that provides training and work experience for people with learning disabilities, autism, or other support needs. Plus, all the profits go to the NOW Group, which helps people find jobs with a future. It’s the perfect place to grab a cup of tea after a long day of learning.

City Hall’s Accessibility – A Big Win!

We found the City Hall to be very accessible, especially the disabled toilets! Michael loved how the door opened with a wave of his hand and closed automatically. Accessibility is so important, and it made our visit even more enjoyable. There has been a lot of news recently on the importance of accessible spaces, including transport for people with a disability.  The City Hall’s staff were extremely friendly and welcoming, helping us every step of the way. We left feeling informed and valued – what a great experience!

Did you know our Experts By Experience, TILII, offer training to help people, organisations and businesses, understand how to best support people with a learning disability?  If you think you and your staff could benefit from, please contact us.