Author Archives: Valerie

How are Children & Young People doing in NI

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We have just published our NI outcome monitoring report 2023/24 full of multi-agency population Indicators. Download your copy now at https://tinyurl.com/bdzc52cw

This is a great resource for assessing need, planning services & can be used as evidence for funding opportunities.

This 13th Outcome Monitoring Report shows how children and young people in Northern Ireland are doing in relation to the Government’s eight outcomes and covers the period 2016 up to 2024 (where available) The report presents the information collected against agreed indicators for each outcome, providing trend analysis over time and comparison across geographical sectors.  It also identifies Rights Based UNCRC Articles related to the indicators.

This report will be kept as a live report under the publications page on the CYPSP website with information being updated as it becomes available.

 

 

 

 

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. 

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

Download Tangled Web experience

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"

New Springboard Programmes – Greater Belfast Area

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Springboard are currently recruiting young people for new Programmes:

Flyer – Journeys consists of 4 distinct programmes, each tailored to specific needs, aimed at young people aged between 16 – 24 years from across the Greater Belfast area, depending on what programme they choose. Journeys provides young people the opportunity to create positive change both for themselves and their communities. There are four key themes that underpin Journeys which are Personal development, Good Relations, Citizenship and Employability.  

Flyer – YouthStart provides participants aged 16 – 30 assistance to work out their career aspirations and steer through their employability and career pathway.The programme supports individual development to build confidence, overcome barriers and understand their tailored career development ‘map’. The programme can be tailored around the individual through 1-1 support, group work and training to meet specific needs.

Flyer – HeadStart is a Skills for life and work programme working with 16-23* year olds (criteria applies). The programme operates over one year, 4 days per week starting in September.  Young people can gain Level 1 in Youth Work or Level 1 in Business Administration as well as Essential Skills in Maths, English and ICT. Young people will also build key personal and employability skills through work placements.

Flyer – Ignite is a fun based learning programme for 14-17 years olds to get involved in relationship building, social action projects, personal development and confidence building, residentials, new experiences and celebration event.

Participants from both the Journeys and HeadStart programmes can benefit from:

  • £8 daily incentive  
  • Free Travel Card
  • NOCN Qualifications
  • One to One Mentoring
  • Residential and Camps
  • Meet new people
  • Social Action Projects