Handwritten notes advising people in despair that help is available have been sighted on Albert Bridge in Belfast
Albert Bridge is one of several bridges across the country that has supportive signs of help for people in need(Image: UCKG)
People who regularly walk or jog across the Albert Bridge in Belfast may have noticed some handwritten signs fastened to the structure.
The notes advise people in despair that help is available. Some of the notes read: “You are needed in ways you can’t yet see.” The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Authority said in their 2024 Northern Ireland Suicide Statistics report that suicide remained the leading cause of death in males under 50 in Northern Ireland.
The bridge initiative is the brainchild of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), which has a location in Belfast and is a registered UK charity. It forms part of the church’s volunteer-led Night Angels programme, which supports people experiencing homelessness, loneliness, emotional damage and hardship across the country.
Bishop Allan Passos, UCKG spokesperson, said: “The Night Angels programme is about meeting people where they are – whether that is on the street, at a food bank, or in a moment of deep personal crisis.”
The bishop said the initiative provides practical help, including food, blankets, toiletries and emotional support, while also offering small acts of encouragement to people who may be in moments of deep despair. UCKG has been active in the UK since 1995, the organisation now operates 38 full-time branches and eight part-time centres across the country, offering daily services and community-focused initiatives.
One of the Night Angels’ most distinctive activities is the placement of messages of hope on bridges across major UK cities, designed to reach people who may be struggling emotionally, feeling isolated, or considering self-harm. These notes are intended as a simple but powerful reminder that help, hope and support are available. UCKG volunteers have placed notes of hope and healing on bridges in key UK cities.
“A simple note on a bridge may seem small, but for someone who feels forgotten, it can be a reminder that their life matters and that support is available,” added Bishop Allan Passos.
The notes are part of a wider commitment to making support visible and accessible outside traditional settings. The church said they are not intended to replace professional care, but to offer a moment of human connection and signpost people towards help. The bridge notes are messages aimed at reaching people in moments of need.
The church said bridges can be places where vulnerable people find themselves at critical moments. By placing messages of hope there, The Night Angels aim to interrupt despair with encouragement, compassion and a reminder that nobody is beyond help.
A 24-hour hotline is listed on the notes to provide immediate support for people who need it.
Lifeline NI also offers support and can be contacted at 0808 808 8000. Alternatively, Samaritans can be reached at 116 123.
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