Background

In 2025 East Belfast Community Development Agency will have been in existence for 55 years.  The organisation was started in 1970 by a small group of volunteers from the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) and the Boys Brigade and formed under the name of East Belfast Youth Council, its purpose was to create an alternative opportunity for young people in an attempt to prevent them getting caught up with the “troubles.”

With funding from Belfast City Council in 1973 two staff were employed and the organisation became East Belfast Community Council to reflect other Community Councils in North, South and West Belfast.  They established a small office in Templemore Avenue, later moving to the old gas office on Albertbridge Road.  Whilst the organisation continued with a focus on young people, they also began to have more of a focus on Community Relations/Cross Community work and Community Development.

A name change again in 1989 to East Belfast Community Development Centre, based on moving into newly refurbished bigger premises further up on the Alberbridge Road.  The name was changed to East Belfast Community Development Agency (EBCDA) in 1994 as a result of merger with East Belfast Development Agency and to better reflect the support role of the organisation to the community sector in East Belfast.