Red banner displaying The King’s Trust logo and the text “The King’s Trust Newsletter – Northern Ireland, April 2026.”
We have so many great courses for young people aged 16-30 to get involved in. Courses are free and give people the tools to build their confidence, find a job or start their own business.
Welcome to the Spring edition of the Fortnightly News; for Children, Young People’s services,and Families, across the Down and Ards & North Down Locality Planning Groups.
Newsletter cover titled “Fortnightly News” from the Ards & North Down and Down CYPSP Locality Planning Groups, April 2026 edition, with a short welcome message and the CYPSP logo on a blue geometric background.
(Note: Newsletter will download directly to your device. Look out for the pop-up box and click on open file when it appears)
For more information on the Fortnightly News please contact; noelle.hollywood@setrust.hscni.net or mobile 07872422101
A poster for a free event called “Think Outside the Box – Supporting Children’s Emotional Health & Wellbeing.” It takes place on 29 April 2026, 9:30am–3:00pm, at Lough Neagh Discovery & Conference Centre. Includes guest speaker Conor McCafferty and taster workshops in Equine Therapy, Lego Beyond Bricks, Music Therapy, Art Therapy, and Creative Writing & Poetry Therapy. Tea/coffee and lunch provided. Booking closes 20 April. Contact email: ppinbox@ci-ni.org.uk. Illustrations show children reading, painting, and playing music.
Parents, carers and professionals across the community are invited to a unique wellbeing event, Think Outside the Box, taking place on Wednesday 29 April 2026 at the Lough Neagh Discovery & Conference Centre.
Running from 9:30am to 3:00pm, the free event will showcase a range of practical therapeutic approaches designed to support children’s emotional health and wellbeing. Attendees can take part in hands‑on taster sessions including Equine Therapy, Beyond Bricks LEGO, Music Therapy, Art Therapy, and Creative Writing & Poetry Therapy.
The day will also feature a special guest speaker, Conor McCafferty, Registered Psychotherapist, who will share insights into understanding children’s emotions and the benefits of creative therapeutic support.
The event is aimed at parents, carers, and professionals who want to deepen their understanding of children’s emotional needs, explore supportive therapies and connect with local services.
Bookings close Monday 20 April and can be made through Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/think-outside-the-box-tickets-1985445381583?aff=oddtdtcreator
For further information, contact ppinbox@ci-ni.org.uk
Your FYI is a monthly round up of all things family support and early intervention / prevention across the Western trust and beyond.
A cover page titled “FYI – For Your Information” with logos for the Western Health and Social Care Trust and CYPSP at the top. The issue is labeled “Contents – April 2026 : Issue 29.” Below is a blue contents table with the following headings: Welcome to FYI; Section 1: Family Support; Section 2: Youth Support; Section 3: Cost of Living; Section 4: Neurodiversity; Section 5: Infant Mental Health / Breastfeeding; Section 6: Digital Safeguarding; Section 7: Addiction; Section 8: Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health.
(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
Graphic for a workshop titled ‘Understanding Self-Harm Workshop.’ The background shows a dark silhouette of a person in profile against a bright light. The top-left corner includes the label ‘Report Card 26.1.’ Two organisation logos appear on the right: the CYPSP logo and the Inspire Wellbeing logo. A black banner at the bottom-right displays the date: ‘21st January 2026
The issue of self-harm and suicide amongst young people has been raised at LPG meetings over the past number of years, predominantly by youth workers, school-based and support services staff who have observed a growing prevalence of young people presenting with anxiety or distress, including self-harm behaviours. Self-harm & suicidal behaviours are interconnected, but distinguishing between the two can be challenging. It is, therefore, crucial to recognise the significant differences in intention and the risks each one presents.
LPG members identified the need to learn more around the issues associated with self-harm and suicide in order to better equip themselves to support a child or young person in crisis, and so the Southern Area Locality Development Team worked with Inspire to hold an Understanding Self-Harm Awareness Session open to LPG members and other contacts across the Southern Trust Area.
Inspire delivered their SHIP (Self-Harm Intervention Programme) PHA-funded Community Workshop, in-person, to 19 participants in Tower Hill, Armagh, on Wednesday 21st January 2026, providing a safe and supportive environment to learn how to recognise the signs, respond with compassion, and connect individuals, if appropriate, to Inspire’s SHIP or to other relevant support services.
Download the Understanding Self-Harm Workshop Scorecard HERE.
