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.

 

CYPSP Members

Statutory Members

Aidan Dawson (Chair), Chief Executive, Public Health Agency

Geraldine Teague, Head of Allied Health Professions, Public Health Agency

Colm McCafferty, Deputy Chief Executive, Director of CYPWS & Executive Director of Social Work, Southern HSCT

Marie-Louise Sloan, Director of Children’s Services & Executive Director of Social Work, South Eastern HSCT

Stephen McLaughlin, Interim Director of Children and Families & Executive Director of Social Work, Western HSCT

Deirdre Ward, Assistant Director for Public Health Nursing for Children & Young People, Public Health Agency

Kerrylee Weatherall, Interim Director of Children’s Community Services, Executive Director of Social Work, Belfast HSCT

Stephen Martin, Chief Executive of Youth Justice Agency

Maura Dargan, Director of Woman, Children & Families, Executive Director of Social Work, Northern HSCT

Helen McKenzie, Director of Operations, Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI)

Tina Dempster, Acting Director of Early Years, Childcare & Children and Young People’s Strategy, Department of Education

Nicola Topping, Assistant Senior Education Officer for Pupil Wellbeing Services, Education Authority

Shirley McKenna, Senior Education Advisor, Council for Catholic Maintained Schools 

Aideen McLaughlin, Assistant Director, Rural Teams, Probation Board for Northern Ireland 

Joanne Gibson, Police Service of Northern Ireland

John Boyle, SOLACE Rep, Director of Community and Wellbeing, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council

Sinead Twomey, Supporting People Contracts Manager, Homeless & Young People, NI Housing Executive

Rory McLaughlin, Interim Operations & Systems Advisor, Education Authority Youth Services 

 

Voluntary Members

Lorna Ballard (Vice Chair), National Director, Action for Children

Natalie Whelehan, Chief Executive, Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI)

Caroline Ferguson, Action Mental Health

Michele Janes, Director, Barnardo’s Northern Ireland

Frances Lyons, Director, National Children’s Bureau

Stephen Dallas, Chief Executive, Bytes Project

Gary McMichael, Chief Executive, ASCERT

John McComb, Include Youth 

 

Community Members

Brenda Macqueen, Executive Director, Dry Arch Children’s Centre

Marie Cavanagh, Lower Ormeau Residents Group

Alison Slater, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Bolster Community

Alix Crawford, Chairperson, Mae Murray Foundation

 

BME Sector

Paul Yam, Director, Wah Hep Chinese Community Assocation

 

In Attendance

Bronwyn Campbell, Interim Commissioning Lead for the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership 

Valerie Maxwell, Children’s Services Planning and Information Manager

Sharon McMinn, Children’s Services Planning Support Officer

Louise Dickson, Children’s Services Planning Support Officer