Author Archives: Valerie

ABC Council Community Support Hubs

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A number of ‘Community Support Hubs’ offering confidential help, support and advice for residents across the Council area, as well as a warm welcome and cup of tea, will open up to the public in November.

Organised by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, these Community Support Hubs will give residents an opportunity to meet with key support organisations who will give advice and guidance around matters relating to housing, food, fuel, universal credit, advice provision and more.

The Hubs will also offer information on home safety, waste management, training and employability, health and wellbeing, as well as signposting to the correct support organisations to ensure people can access the right help for their circumstances.

The Community Support Hub information is now live on the Council website and can be previewed on the link below:

Drop-in Community Support Hubs – where everyone is welcome – Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

Please download the following Community Support Hub flyers for information on venues and dates:

The QR code on the flyer will take you directly to our Council website.

The first Community Support Hub took place in Lurgan Town Hall on Tuesday 12th November 2024. 

Mindwise Parenting Workshop – Fermanagh

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Image with text, two people and a QR code promoting Mindwise parenting workshop We are excited to invite you to a Parent Workshop and Information Session for our new program, Beyond Bricks Wellness, on Wednesday, November 27th, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Fermanagh House.

This workshop will introduce Beyond Bricks Wellness, a pilot program designed to support children aged 5–12 who are experiencing emotional health and well-being challenges. Through play-based approaches, we aim to foster a trusting environment where children can understand their emotions and develop resilience skills for now and in the future.

Recognising the essential role of parents in this journey, we are also committed to supporting parents’ well-being.

This session will provide valuable insights on supporting your child’s emotional growth, along with resources for enhancing your own well-being as caregivers. Additionally, we welcome your feedback to help shape and improve our programs.

Emotionally Based School Avoidance

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The Parent Participation Project at Parentline NI recently brought together parents and professionals to explore the issue of School Avoidance in a collaborative and engaging way looking at how we can all work together to support children who are experiencing Emotionally based school avoidance.

After discussions with families who voiced concerns about this issue and the challenges parents and children face in accessing appropriate support, it was decided that a joint effort between parents and professionals would be beneficial for further exploration.

Engaging with parents from the Anxiety Based School Avoidance (ABSA) Peer Support Group was crucial. Their insights through lived experience and discussing what they have found supportive helped to shape the outline of the day.

Presenters included 3 parents with lived experience, an education welfare officer from the Education Authority sharing parent to school engagement, the vice principal of Blessed Trinity College sharing best practice, Strive Ni sharing support and strategies and Children in Northern Ireland’s Head of Policy sharing key insights in relation to lobbying government. Nine organisations including The Children’s Law Centre, Strive Ni, Eden Consultancy, Action For Children Family Support Hub, Education Authority, Parentline Ni, Emotional Wellbeing Teams in Schools, ABSA Peer Support Group and The Parent Participation Service hosted information stands around the room on the day.

Download Event Feedback

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Outcomes

It was very much the tone of the day that this was a great starting point for further exploration and collaboration. Opportunities were provided for networking and delegates were seated in a way that provided for networking and further collaboration.

Since the event a number of parents and organisations have got in touch to be involved with the next event planned for Spring 2025.

Free Cerebral Palsy Sleep Resource

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The Northern Ireland Cerebral Palsy Register and Queen’s University Belfast are delighted to share with you our free resources on sleep and CP. These resources are the results of Dr Mary-Elaine McCavert’s PhD on sleep disturbances in children with CP and were created alongside children with CP and their parents thanks to the support of the John Glover Memorial Award. 

All three resources (including one for families and one for the GP core team) can be found and downloaded from here: https://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/NorthernIrelandCerebralPalsyRegister/Sleep-disturbances-Cerebral-palsy/ . For your convenience, we have attached the resource for educational staff. We hope this supports you and your pupils with CP, who may also have difficulties with sleep.  

Front cover of teacher resource about sleep and Cerebral Palsy - picture of yellow moon wearing a sleep hat with z z z sitting on purple clouds includes QUB logo and text "dear teacher please don't forget"

Western Area FYI – Issue 10

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Download Issue 10

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

Welcome to the packed 10th issue of FYI your monthly round up of all things family support and early intervention/ prevention.

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