Charity Director in new role to champion the ‘power of partnership’

Head-and-shoulders portrait of a person with short light-coloured hair and round glasses, wearing a blue blazer over a white top and a silver necklace. The photo is taken indoors against a stone wall, with a colourful abstract painting visible in the background.

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