CYPSP

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August 13, 2026Download Issue (Note: Newsletter will download directly to your device.  Look out for the pop-up box and click on open file when it appears) If you have any information you would like to share across our Locality Planning Group members in Belfast, please email: LocalityPlanning@belfasttrust.hscni.net [...] Read more...
August 13, 2026Welcome to Issue 170 of our newsletter, ‘FYI’ (For Your Information). Download Issue 170 (Note: Newsletter will download directly to your device.  Look out for the pop-up box and click on open file when it appears)   With summer coming towards a close, preparations for the next school year are under way and so there is lots of information on starting / back to school spread across this edition. As of today, it is also officially exam results season, so you will find details on various supports, resources & opportunities available to young people (and their families), as they look ahead to their next chapter. We have a few weeks of summer left and there is still plenty going on across the Southern Trust Area for children, young people & families, so thank you to all those who submitted information on upcoming events, programmes and workshops for sharing.   See you in the next school year! Locality Development Team, Southern Area [...] Read more...
August 12, 2026Charity Director in new role to champion the ‘power of partnership’   A local charity leader has been appointed to help lead a multi-agency partnership which works to improve outcomes for children and young people. Lorna Ballard, National Director at Action for Children in Northern Ireland, is the new deputy chairperson at the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP). A Larne native, Ms Ballard has a strong social work background and has headed up Action for Children NI since 2020. CYPSP brings together leaders from statutory bodies, and community/voluntary sectors to improve the lives of children and families. It coordinates joint planning and resources to deliver early intervention and family support. The Regional Group provides strategic leadership for the implementation of Northern Ireland’s Children’s Services Plan, bringing partners together to coordinate planning and action across agencies. Outcomes Groups align with NI’s five Health and Social Care Trust areas and coordinate local planning based on regional needs. Locality Planning Groups, 25 across Northern Ireland, bring community organisations and statutory bodies together to address the needs of children at a local, grassroots level. CYPSP also oversees 29 local hubs that act as a single point of access for families who need early support and the partnership also regularly publishes guides to help caregivers and young people navigate local services. Alongside the current Chairperson – Aidan Dawson, Chief Executive of the Public Health Agency – Ms Ballard is committed to being a strong voice for children, young people and their families and finding better ways to collaborate for their benefit. She said: “It’s an honour to be appointed to this role and I’m excited to bring my professional perspective and experience to the table. “CYPSP is a powerhouse with representation across sectors, covering all Northern Ireland and united with a common goal – to make life better for infants, children, young people and families here.” Ms Ballard added: “In my first meeting as Deputy Chair last month, I was struck by how much passion and willingness there was in the room to collaborate and find new ways to solve old challenges. The power of partnership is at the heart of CYPSP and is the golden thread that I’ll be following during my time in this position.”   ENDS For more information on the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership, visit https://cypsp.hscni.net [...] Read more...

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The Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP) brings together a range of agencies, including voluntary and community sector organisations, that aim to improve the lives of children and young people in Northern Ireland.

In the past, despite best efforts, everyone who worked with children and young people provided services separately which only created problems for children and young people, and their families and wasted resources. The CYPSP aims to plan and provide services for children and young people more efficiently by making joint decisions about the services needed, and funding these services together.

Importantly, the CYPSP emphasizes a rights-based approach to its work. This means planning services that uphold children’s rights and encouraging children, young people and their parents to participate in the process.