A RUNNING initiative in Ormeau Park has been helping asylum seekers and refugees form networks and connections in the community in Belfast.
Sanctuary Runners was founded in Cork in 2018 and has over forty groups in the south. There is one other group in the north in Dungannon and at the end of the summer Sanctuary Runners Belfast was officially launched.
Michelle Morris, Community Development Manager East and North with Sanctuary Runners, said that the group is so valuable for bringing people together.
"The whole idea of Sanctuary Runners is about bringing people together, of all nationalities. People who live and work in Ireland, who are maybe seeking asylum. Also local residents, Belfast people and Irish people.
"A lot of people are living side by side but never get the chance to actually chat," she said. "The people who come who are seeking asylum, maybe from different ethnic populations, they know they're going to be welcomed.
"The values of Sanctuary Runners are solidarity, friendship and respect, and that's really the premise."
The group have a memorandum of understanding with Parkrun, and meet together at the Ormeau Parkrun every Saturday morning to run the route. They also have refreshments after the run on the first Saturday of every month.
Speaking about the event, Michelle said that running and exercise was a great way to bring people together and encourage them to open up.
"What tends to happen when people are out walking or running is there's a bit of a buzz, you're doing something good. It's a beautiful setting and you can walk and run.
"You need to try and provide vehicles for people to try and meet local people, and that's really what it is."
Michelle praised the impact of the Fleadh in Belfast for mutual understanding and said that there was "euphoria around seeing Belfast as a lively, embracing and welcoming city".
She said that at a recent event two people from London approached her and said "they could not believe this was happening in Belfast, and that the joy and the happiness was something to behold".
"The ambition is just to bring people together," she said. "We're all human. We all just need to know each other and respect each other. That's what it's about. Solidarity through sport, friendship and respect."
