The Director of 174 Trust, Bill Shaw, heads the Connect Youth group, which meets every Monday and Thursday from 4:30pm to 6:00pm. The first collective began in 1998 with a group of boys from the New Lodge area, who gathered in the large hall of 174 Trust to play football. At the start, Connect Youth bridged 174 Trust with youths in the surrounding community. Since then, however, it has become a safe outlet for local boys from all communities to build relationships and respect for one another. Currently, a group of about 10-12 boys meet bi-weekly for football at The Hammer Leisure Centre. These youths have been convening regularly for the past 6.5 years.