Issue 146 – Southern Area FYI – 17th April 2025

Welcome to Issue 146 of our fortnightly newsletter, ‘FYI’ (For Your Information).

Image with text promoting Southern Area Locality Planning Groups FYI (For Your Information)

Image with text promoting Southern Area Locality Planning Groups FYI (For Your Information)

Download Issue 146

(Note: Newsletter will download directly to your device.  Look out for the pop-up box and click on open file when it appears)

As Easter is just around the corner, you will see our CYPSP Children & Young People’s Resource Pack on page 3, providing a wide range of activities to do during the school break.

On the subject of school, page 25 has got links to download the great new resource produced by CiNI to support schools on the prevalent issue of anxiety-based school avoidance. Both of these resources are FREE.

This edition of ‘FYI’ also contains information on upcoming training opportunities, events, resources and links for you, colleagues and families to avail of.

We hope you have a lovely Easter and catch up in two weeks time!

Family Support Hub Collective – 8 April 2025

On Tuesday 8th April an event took place bringing Hub Coordinators from across the region to chat and learn from each other and we were joined by number of speakers who really enriched the discussions and brought extra value to the day. We were delighted to welcome Jacinta Linden, CE of Bolster Community in Newry and Deirdre Mahon, former director of Children’s Services in Western Trust who are the co-chairs of the Family Support Workstream of the Children’s Services Reform Board and Catherine Cooke, the reform Coordinator working on that workstream. The workstream (Workstream 9) was established as part of the Children’s Services Reform Process to reform Children’s Services.

 

 

We kicked off the day with the theme of “different but the same” and completed an exercise to further examine the differences in how Hubs work in their areas. This was a great conversation starter and allowed us to consider possible draw backs and benefits of these different approaches. It also provided Jacinta, Deirdre and Catherine with an overview of the wider Hub Network. Jacinta and Deirdre then provided an update on the work they’re leading on and what that might mean going forward. We appreciate them taking the time out of very busy schedules to come and listen to and get an understanding of the Family Support Hub Network and how that fits in our current early family support system. As one of the Coordinators so eloquently summarised, we are working in different ways with the same principles and towards the same goals.

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following the exercise, we had a presentation from Nora and Sarah from Co-operation Ireland’s Our Generation Project. They spoke about their role, an overview of the project, current partners and the potential opportunities for families and organisation in the Hub Networks to avail of their support.

 

 

 

 

We then had a presentation from Margaret, the Partnership Manager from Money and Pension Service. Given the rise in the number of families who report financial difficulties coming to hubs this was a very timely presentation. Financial pressures are not just faced by our families and the information was useful to all of us in the room too. She explored the link between financial difficulties and poor outcomes for families as well as the importance of those working with families to have the confidence and knowledge to best support these families. Improving the skills and confidence of the Hubs in providing the best information to families will be something we will be exploring going forward.

 

 

 After a well-earned break for lunch we finished up the day with the fabulous Ed Sipler. We have shared many of Ed’s resources in previous editions of the FSH Newsletter and so I was delighted he was able to join us in person to help round up the day. Ed’s passion for his work around self-care and self-compassion was so evident in his presentation.  We got a really accessible overview what self-care and compassion are, the science and impact it has on our bodies but Ed also kindly took us through some simple techniques to help ourselves. I will certainly be making the effort to introduce some of these techniques in to my daily routine. As always, Ed walked us through some of the resources available to support ourselves and to share with colleagues and families as well as what training he will be offering in the coming months.

 

 

It was a busy and educative day. I would like to once again thank all of the Hub Coordinator staff, old and new who came to join us, the speakers Nora, Sarah, Margaret and Ed, the Workstream 9 leadership of Jacinta, Deirdre and Catherine, the staff at The Junction and a final huge thank you to Louise and Yvonne from the Children’s Planning Team who made the day possible.

 

A day spent with our Hub teams is always a day well spent!

Bronwyn

 

 

 

 

 

Western Area FYI – Issue 17 – April 2025

Your FYI is a monthly round up of all things family support and early intervention / prevention across the Western trust and beyond.

Image with text promoting Western Area FYI (For Your Information)

Image with text promoting Western Area FYI (For Your Information)

Download Issue 17

(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 would like to contribute upcoming consultations, training, articles, or events that practitioners from the community, voluntary or statutory sectors within the Western Trust will find useful please contact:

Dr Priscilla Magee – Mobile  07880723076     priscilla.magee@westerntrust.hscni.net

Paul Sweeney – Mobile  07387259117     paul.sweeney@westerntrust.hscni.net

Issue 145 – Southern Area FYI – 3rd April 2025

Welcome to Issue 145 of our fortnightly newsletter, ‘FYI’ (For Your Information).

Image with text promoting Southern Area Locality Planning Groups FYI (For Your Information)

Image with text promoting Southern Area Locality Planning Groups FYI (For Your Information)

Download Issue 145

(Note: Newsletter will download directly to your device.  Look out for the pop-up box and click on open file when it appears)

Springtime is coming and it’s good to see a change in the weather. Long may it last!

We have a number of great resources and opportunities in the Southern Area in this edition.  Firstly, on page 3, you will see the great new resource for schools to help address school anxiety and distress, following CiNI’s successful event last week. 

On page 8 you will see an invitation to parents/care givers and practitioners for an online health information session on Looking After Your Child’s Teeth by the Community Dental Service at SHSCT. And, as we are always keen to share funding opportunities, you will see information on page 12 about Holiday Grants from the Henry Smith Charity.

Plenty more included in this issue and see you again as we hurtle towards Easter!

Locality Development Team, Southern Area

EWTS- Stress Awareness Month April 2025

This assembly has been created by the Emotional Wellbeing Team in schools to help promote Stress Awareness Month which takes place in April every year.  The awareness campaign from The Stress Management Society aims to increase public knowledge about not just the causes, but what we can all do to combat stress.

Graphic with text promoting Stress Awareness Month April 2025 and QR code

Graphic with text promoting Stress Awareness Month April 2025 and QR code

Click here to watch 

This year’s theme is #LeadWithLove

This theme encourages us to approach ourselves and others with kindness, compassion, and acceptance, no matter the challenges we face.

Small acts of love such as  kindness to a friend, or  practicing self-love can spark powerful waves of positivity that ripple outward.

View full range of EWTS resources: https://cypsp.hscni.net/youth-wellness-web/ewts/