I was born in East Belfast and have lived in Castlereagh all my life, my family moved from the Cregah Road to Dundonald when I was 5 years old and I have lived there ever since. I was educated in Grosvenor Grammar School before moving on to Queen’s University Belfast where I studied English Literature & Journalism for a year before moving into full time employment. In 2011 I began getting involved in local community work and youth programmes and through Belfast YMCA and YouthLink NI I completed my Youth Work Level 2 training in November of that year. Since then I have been involved in volunteer work with Belfast YMCA on their Youth in Government programme as well as a volunteering with Ballybeen Youth Club and with Make-A-Wish UK, the Rainbow Project and Positive Life. I joined the Alliance Party in March of 2012 because I believe that it is the only party willing and able to bring positive change through inclusiveness, mutual respect and a shared understanding of our troubled past and can deliver on a truly shared future. I am openly gay and I know first hand the consequences of living in a divided society.
The only way forward is to engage in positive politics to build a society in which everyone can be themselves and celebrate who they are in a respectful way while maintaining everyone’s identity. Northern Ireland is made up of more than just two or three communities and in order to bring about a shared future we have to make sure we collectively work together to understand one another, help each other and that that we are simply 'Us' rather than 'Us and Them'. We have a real chance and a fantastic opportunity to make a difference for future generations and only by bringing our divided society together can we hope to achieve that.
Issues close to my heart include:
- Equality - For too long has NI been stifled by politics that does not deliver on a truly shared future, and Alliance has the will and the vision to change that. Equality of esteem and opportunity must be embraced and enshrined in law for everyone. Religion, sexuality, ethnicity, nationality, gender or disability should not be factors that limit what we can do, nor should it be the factor that denies us our basic human rights.
- Transport - The current public transport system in NI is good, but it could be much better. Rail links could be vastly improved and the current infrastructure extended to reach places that no longer have access to rail travel such as Dundonald, Newtownards, Comber and the entire Ards Peninsula. We need to invest in greater and more reliable public transport. It is unacceptable that those living in isolated areas are dependent upon an unreliable and infrequent public transport system, this needs to change.
- Environment - We all share the same spaces, breathe the same air and drink the same water. It is essential that we continue to ensure that our environment is free from pollution and that we maintain the natural beauty of our landscape. We need greater investment and focus on recycling initiatives and community conservation projects. I am strongly against fracking and I believe that only by investing in long term renewable energy sources (solar, tidal, geothermal) can we have any hope of reducing carbon emissions as well as creating jobs, stimulating our economy and reducing our dependency on expensive and harmful fossil fuels from other countries.
- Integrated Education - Our education system is in disarray and year after year the DUP and Sinn Fein are failing to deliver on a shared education system that will allow our children to flourish in a fully inclusive environment with children from other backgrounds. We need to ensure that any integrated education system is successful in its attainment level and prepares our young people for the future. Only by defeating the stigma and fear between communities at an early age and by focusing investment on high quality education can we ever hope to achieve a future that is bright and inclusive.
- The vulnerable in society - A society is measured not by how it caters for the fortunate, but by how it looks after those who are unable to look after themselves. I believe that we must reach out to those in need such as the homeless, those who suffer from mental health issues, young people, the elderly, those with disabilities or those who simply need a helping hand and give them the support they need and deserve.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this blog are those of myself, Stephen Donnan, and do not reflect the views, opinions or positions of any of the organisations, individuals, charities, political parties or otherwise that I may represent, work for/with or associate with.
