A South Belfast youth club is hoping that its plans for expansion will be approved so it can provide more space for its members and local boxers.
Rosario Youth Club has welcomed the Ormeau Boxing Club into its facilities over the past few years after the boxers were made homeless after losing their gym.
Since then the two clubs have shared the main hall in the youth club but they are in desperate need of more space in order to support the number of members at each club.
Read more: Annadale Embankment regeneration hopes for South Belfast community as plans unveiled
Rosario has now submitted plans as part of a South Belfast Cross Community Area Network (CCAN) Place Shaping Programme, alongside a number of other organisations and hopes that it will be able to secure the expansion of its youth club.
This would see a new floor being added to the youth club, which would become the new home to Ormeau Boxing Club, and also additional function rooms that could be used by the youth club and local community.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Mark Jones, youth worker at Rosario Youth Club said: "Over the past few years we have welcomed the Ormeau Boxing Club into the youth club after they lost their gym and we are very glad that we have been able to support them during this time.
"But we are getting to the point where we have growing memberships in both clubs and some nights it can get a bit chaotic and it would be a huge benefit to us all if we were able to secure an expansion of our premises.
"Rosario and the boxing club have members who come from across Belfast to be with us and by enhancing our facilities we will be able to do more for our community and young people."
The plans are part of a wider project involving the South Belfast Cross Community Area Network which would see a number of projects taking place which include the creation of a Men's Shed, the creation of new football pitches and walking trail at Annadale Embankment and enhancements to the Ballynafeigh Methodist Church.
A spokesperson for the Housing Executive said; “We’re excited to be facilitating discussions with a range of community and statutory organisations as part of the Building Positive Relations programme, which is a Peace IV programme in partnership with Belfast City Council and funded by Special EU Programmes Body.
“The South Belfast Cross Community Area Network has developed a range of proposals aimed at enhancing the area around Annadale and we have facilitated a series of meetings at ground level to gauge interest and gather ideas to help this process.
“We look forward to seeing the final concept ideas and we commend the local community for engaging so positively.”
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