About

About us

Promoting social inclusion and positive community relations.

Glebe House HCT is a charitable organisation established in 1975.

Our residential and activity centre is situated on a 16-acre site in the tranquil village of Kilclief near Strangford, Northern Ireland, from which we have been promoting social inclusion and positive community relations throughout the province for almost 50 years.

Whilst our society and community have changed since 1975, Glebe House HCT continues to provide a shared, safe, fun and inclusive environment that welcomes and supports people of all ages to come together to work, play and develop relationships.

Today, we work with children, young people and adults to contribute to a peaceful, fair, inclusive society in which each person can be an agent of positive change in their own life and the lives of others.

est.

1975

Our core values

Since its inception Glebe House HCT has been guided by a set of core values.

The Trust gives expression to these values in its dealings with all the Trust’s stakeholders: the adults, young people and children who come to Glebe House; volunteers; employees of the Trust; partner organisations; visiting groups and individuals, and the local community of Kilclief, the Lecale area and more widely in Down and Ards.

Respect

Equality

Diversity

Inclusiveness

Health & Wellbeing

Cooperation

Trust

Voluntary Service

Sustainability

Fun

Council of Management

Harmony Community Trust (HCT) is a company limited by guarantee (NI10639), is registered with the Charity Commission (NIC102523), and owns Glebe House. The HCT Council of Management has responsibility for the affairs and property of Glebe House and is committed to its values and to achieving its objectives. The members of our Council of Management are:

Chairman Seamus Camplisson

Seamus is a retired civil servant with policy experience in public health, community relations, human rights, equality legislation, social need, childcare and creativity. Seamus was a volunteer on the first Glebe House programmes in 1975 and has been a member of HCT Council of Management since 2002 and Chairman of HCT since 2016. Seamus is also a musician and singer.

Vice Chair Garvin Loughrin

Garvin is a retired Civil Servant who spent most of his career in the Department for the Economy. He now works in the Hospitality sector and has been involved in fundraising for several NI charities including Mencap and the Childrens Cancer Fund. Garvin brings his knowledge and experience of public service, charity fundraising and delivering hospitality services to his role on our Council of Management.

Treasurer David Boyd

David is a Chartered Accountant, a former partner in an international accountancy firm and a past President of the Rotary Club of Belfast, who, along with International Voluntary Service, were the founders of HCT. David has been involved with the Trust in various roles since 1978. He brings a wide financial, corporate governance and charity experience in his role as Honorary Treasurer and former Chairman.

Company Secretary Judith Thompson

Judith is a former Probation Service Manager with 10 years’ experience of leadership in the NI Voluntary and Community Sector. She served as NI Victims Commissioner from 2015-2020 and was a member and vice chair of the Governing Body of the Southern Regional College from 2015-2023. Judith brings experience of Governance, voluntary sector leadership and of working with people and communities affected by conflict to her role in Glebe House.

Sharon Heaney

Sharon worked in primary education for 36 years as a senior manager, subject co-ordinator, head of key stage and teacher tutor. She became involved with Glebe House after a school visit in1986 and has been volunteering since then - leading residentials, fundraising, training volunteers and serving on the Glebe House (HCT) Programme Committee and Council of Management. Sharon’s professional experience of working with children, of management and of safeguarding has been brought to bear on her work as a member of Glebe House (HCT) Council of Management and the development of our services over many years.

Gavin Morgan

Gavin is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and Construction Project Manager holding the position of director in a Belfast construction consultancy. Gavin has over 25 years’ experience of working within the construction industry on a wide range of projects from listed buildings, community buildings, hotels, factories, schools and hospitals and working for private and public sector clients. His skills and experience are critical to council in relation to the management of lands and our understanding of the value of our estate to the organisation. Gavin enjoys travelling in addition to following various sports.

Janice McDonald

Janice is Manager of Down Business Centre in Downpatrick, a charity that works for the benefit of the local community by supporting new and existing small business and by playing an active part in business development withing the Newry Mourne & Down Council area. Janice grew up within a family business – an award-winning bakery in Newcastle – and knows from first-hand experience the hard work and determination needed to make a business successful. Janice brings her experience as a business adviser, mentor and trainer to her role as member of Council at Glebe House. She is a passionate advocate for local business and also brings her strong working relationships across local and central Government as well as with key decision makers in the public, private and community sectors to her role on Council.

Maureen Ridgeway

Maureen has 30 years’ experience as a qualified Playworker with Belfast City Council. She first came to Glebe House for a cross community holiday with children from the Avoniel play centre in East Belfast during the worst of “ the troubles”. Maureen says “It was such a release for the children to play and have fun, games and conversations with other children who were unwittingly living the same lives they were.” For the next 20 years of her career and for 10 years since Maureen has brought her skills, passion and experience as a playworker to Glebe House as a volunteer and a member of Council. Maureen is also an experienced trainer and NVQ assessor and has brought these skills to bear as a member of the Glebe House Programme Committee.

Rob Sterrett

Rob is a community worker with 40 years’ experience of bringing young people and adults together across divided communities in West and North Belfast. He brought young people and adults to Glebe House from communities affected by conflict during the worst years of “the troubles” and saw them grow from the experience. Rob remains passionate about bringing people together to create a safer and better society for everyone and brings this to bear as a member of the Glebe House (HCT) Council of Management.

Paul Thompson

Paul is a qualified Social Worker and a former senior manager in the Probation Service. Paul has more than 40 years’ experience of leading voluntary and community sector partnerships, and managing services which help individuals to address personal difficulties and achieve their potential. He also spent more than 20 years managing multi agency partnerships responsible for public protection and is currently an Independent Chair for Domestic Homicide Review Panels.