Background

Brink! is a dynamic initiative dedicated to promoting discussion, education, & action around climate change across Belfast. At its core, Brink! champions a creative, place-based approach, leveraging art & community engagement to bring about conversations in sustainability. Brink!’s philosophy centres on challenging the status quo & exploring innovative ways to live more connected, healthy & sustainable lives in a rapidly changing environment. They believe in the power of creative storytelling & collaborative working to address environmental challenges, bringing together a diverse range of voices to drive forward positive change

In addition to a number of standout initiatives, Brink! is actively involved in a number of initiatives that demonstrate the depth of their commitment towards climate action & sustainability.

Key initiatives: Transforming Urban Spaces

Brink!’s most prominent projects “A Growing Story” & “Colour Stories” show their transformative approach. These initiatives have breathed new life into a previously derelict site at the corner of Union Street & Kent Street in Belfast City Centre, turning it into a vibrant hub for urban agriculture, captivating art installations & a space for coming together as a community.

A Growing Story

This project has successfully transformed a brownfield site into a thriving community garden, demonstrating the potential for urban food growing & community connection through activities such as foraging, planting & harvesting. A Growing Story has engaged diverse groups in learning about food production & reflecting on how to improve sustainability in the city. It encourages participants to see everyday actions as personal ways to address the climate crisis, showcasing what can happen when an urban space is understood through a different perspective.

The site is powered entirely by renewable energy, with 4kw worth of solar generated power stored in batteries, powering day-to-day activities such as community workshops and evening events.

Colour Stories

This project uses a blend of nature, arts, & heritage to tell stories of the past to create a better future. It features the creation of a dye garden on the Brink! site allowing members of the local community to explore the knowledge of extracting natural colours from plants. Through workshops & events, Colour Stories engages the community in a creative journey, using colour & nature to bring their own stories & identities to life, all whilst raising awareness about climate change.

Project Highlights & Outcomes

• Community Engagement – by creating welcoming & interactive spaces, Brink! empowers local communities to actively participate in sustainable practice & active discussion about the environment, building a sense of collective responsibility
• Urban Regeneration – Brink! provides a powerful example of how neglected urban spaces can be revitalised to create vibrant community assets promoting green education
• Accessible Education – Brink! makes complex topics such as climate change & sustainability more accessible to the community & engaging through hands-on workshops, artistic expression, & unique event programming
• Creating Climate Ambassadors – working in partnership with the Co-Centre for Climate, Biodiversity & Water , an international research centre dedicated to tackling the complex challenges of climate change. Brink! Helped to deliver active citizen research workshops across the community as part of Northern Ireland Science Festival
• Belfast & Beyond – Brink! are pooling together 18 months of learning from their time on the Belfast Stories site, working with communities, organisations and local councils to breathe life into other spaces across the city

Why it Works

• Place-based & Tangible – by focusing on a specific urban site in Belfast City Centre, Brink! creates tangible examples of sustainability in action
• Creative, Engaging – the integration of art, food & culture draws in a diverse audience who might not typically engage with environmental issues
• Solution-focused – while acknowledging the challenges of climate change, Brink! focuses on practical solutions & positive action

Alignment with the Energy Learning Network

The Brink! Project’s innovative approach strongly aligns with the Energy Learning Network’s aim to empower our local communities in conversations around energy. Both initiatives recognise the critical role of local engagement in Northern Ireland’s energy transition:

• Empowering Communities – brings focus on transforming urban spaces into hubs of environmental education & engagement, complementing the ELN’s mission to develop skills across our communities
• Creative Engagement – Brink!’s use of creative storytelling & hands-on workshops provides a blueprint for engaging new & diverse audiences in discussions around community energy & sustainable living
• Promoting Sustainable Practice & Energy Awareness – the project’s efforts to transform urban spaces inherently promotes sustainable practice, showcasing efficient use of local resources

Interested in learning more? You can follow Brink!’s journey at : Brink! A climate action platform to discuss, learn and act