Marie Therese Smith has lived her whole life in Belfast’s Market, a neighbourhood that has been home to her family for eight generations. The Market is rich in history, once a thriving hub of factories, markets, and close-knit communities, yet over the years it has faced decline, unemployment, and health inequalities. Despite these challenges, its residents have always maintained a strong sense of community, resilience, and pride in where they come from.

Finding a platform and a purpose

Three years ago, Marie Therese took a step that would transform her life. Enrolling in a degree in Community Development at Ulster University, she began exploring health, wealth, and inequalities in her own community. Through that work, she connected with Queen’s University Belfast’s Communities and Place (QCAP) project and its Health Action Group. It was here that she found both a platform and a purpose. Through QCAP, she began to see that change was possible, not just in the community, but within herself.

Her journey has been extraordinary. From participating in a 10-week adult education programme after COVID, to completing an Open College Network qualification, and then progressing to a full degree, Marie Therese describes the experience as “incredible.” Alongside her studies, she became deeply involved with the Market through the Health Action and Substance Use Groups, running the Community Wellbeing Kitchen and volunteering with children on the Queen’s STEAM scheme. Her days are full, but it is this busyness that has given her strength, especially after the sudden loss of her children’s father. Being active in the community, she says, has helped her cope, providing structure, purpose, and hope.

The Community Wellbeing Kitchen has become one of Marie Therese’s most powerful ways to make a difference. Cooking has always been her passion, and through the Kitchen she shows people that preparing nutritious, affordable meals can be simple and enjoyable. She teaches families how to create food from scratch, helping them move away from processed meals, and she highlights the links between diet, health, and behaviour, especially for children with autism. Seeing families and children excited about cooking, and observing the positive changes in their lives, has been deeply rewarding.

Bringing communities together

Marie Therese’s impact extends far beyond the Kitchen. Through QCAP, she has helped foster a sense of connection and belonging in the Market, where people often feel unheard. She has become a leader in her community, helping neighbours and families find support and build resilience. With new shared housing developments and diverse residents moving into the area, she has begun hosting cultural food nights to bring people together, breaking bread across communities and building understanding. She also hopes to establish support networks for families with children with special educational needs, ensuring no one feels alone in facing the challenges of everyday life.

Marie Therese’s story shows the transformative power of place-based engagement. Working with Queen’s through QCAP has given her knowledge, confidence, and opportunity, but it has also allowed her to share her lived experience to create real, lasting change. Her life, and the life of the Market community is richer for it. For Marie Therese, and for the generations who call the Market home, the impact of this work will continue to be felt for many years to come.

“For us, it’s about knowing someone is listening, that we’re not on our own. And that we’re being given the tools to help ourselves.”