Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Tracy Kelly, has announced that NI Alternatives will be one of the civic charities she supports during her year in office.

The announcement was made following a visit to the charity's Greater Shankill branch, where Councillor Kelly met with project co-ordinators and counsellors to learn about their vital community work. NI Alternatives operates across Northern Ireland, with branches in North, East, and South Belfast, and Greater Shankill. The organisation is dedicated to developing and promoting non-violent, community-based responses to issues like low-level crime and anti-social behaviour. The Lord Mayor specifically heard from participants in the charity's MIND (Mentoring, Interventions, Nurturing and Development) project, which focuses on providing therapeutic and counselling services to vulnerable young people.

Councillor Kelly, who revealed she has personally used the charity's mental health support services in the past, explained her motivation: "One of my goals for my year in office is to ensure everyone in Belfast feels part of our city and has the chance to be the best they can be." She praised the charity for providing "hands-on support directly to schools, community groups and individuals," which shows there is an alternative pathway to positive conflict resolution.

Debbie Watters OBE, Co-Director of NI Alternatives, expressed the organisation's honour at being selected, noting that the Lord Mayor's commitment to young people, positive mental health, and wellbeing "shines through".