Christmas Edition Family Support Newsletter

The Christmas edition of the Family Support Hub Newsletter is now available at  https://cypsp.hscni.net/download/391/family-support-hubs/47245/fsh-newsletter-dec2025.pdf  

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

As we approach the festive season, this edition is filled with events, activities, and services designed to support families across our region during what can be both a joyful and challenging time of year. Whether you are a parent, carer, or professional working with families, we hope you find something helpful and uplifting within these pages.

This newsletter is a celebration of the incredible work happening in our communities and the commitment of everyone involved in supporting families. It’s also a reminder that help is always available, no one should feel alone during the holidays.

It is also packed full of information for parents/carers, early years, children & young people with a disability,  mental health and wellbeing advice,  Helplines and much more – make sure you download your copy now!

Previous editions of the newsletter are available at  http://www.cypsp.hscni.net/family-support-hubs  under Family Support Newsletter section.

Regards,

Children’s Services Team

 

Free ADHD awareness event for parents/ carers

Are you a parent/ carer of a child with ADHD or do you wonder if your child may have ADHD? Come along to this free talk by Consultant Paediatrician, Dr Matthew McConkey

A poster for a free ADHD Awareness Event for parents and carers, organized by the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and FFP Ards CIC. The event features a talk by Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Matthew McConkey, covering ADHD symptoms, assessment, support strategies, and available resources. It takes place on Friday 26 September 2025, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Robert Andrews Church Hall, Donaghadee. Complimentary tea/coffee and health and wellbeing information stands will be available. Booking is required via collette.watt@setrust.hscni.net

A poster for a free ADHD Awareness Event for parents and carers, organized by the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and FFP Ards CIC. The event features a talk by Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Matthew McConkey, covering ADHD symptoms, assessment, support strategies, and available resources. It takes place on Friday 26 September 2025, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Robert Andrews Church Hall, Donaghadee. Complimentary tea/coffee and health and wellbeing information stands will be available. Booking is required via collette.watt@setrust.hscni.net

Lisburn Neuro Café

Join us for an Information and Support event for parents and carers of children with Autism and ADHD and those awaiting assessment on Wednesday 8 October at Lisburn City Library.

A flyer for the "Lisburn Neuro Café" event organized by South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Early Intervention Lisburn, and CYPSP. The event is for parents and carers of children with Autism and ADHD, including those awaiting assessment. It will be held on Wednesday 8 October 2025 from 10 am to 12 noon at Lisburn City Library, Linenhall Street, Lisburn. The event will feature information stalls with representatives from statutory and community organizations and light refreshments. For more information, contact Connor at 07540 071 512 or Noelle at 07872 422 101. The flyer includes logos of the organizing bodies at the top, an illustration of diverse people interacting, and event details in white text on a blue background

A flyer for the “Lisburn Neuro Café” event organized by South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Early Intervention Lisburn, and CYPSP. The event is for parents and carers of children with Autism and ADHD, including those awaiting assessment. It will be held on Wednesday 8 October 2025 from 10 am to 12 noon at Lisburn City Library, Linenhall Street, Lisburn. The event will feature information stalls with representatives from statutory and community organizations and light refreshments. For more information, contact Connor at 07540 071 512 or Noelle at 07872 422 101. The flyer includes logos of the organizing bodies at the top, an illustration of diverse people interacting, and event details in white text on a blue background

Mental Health Strategy – Early Intervention and Prevention – Service Directory

In support of actions 1 and 2 of the Mental Health Strategy and Mental Health early intervention and prevention, the Public Health Agency are encouraging all stakeholders to contribute to the new Minding Your Head webpage service directory.

You are invited to add mental health and emotional wellbeing services (outlined in the ‘service type’ section of the guide) your organisation provides in your local community.

Please also engage with all organisations that you commission to encourage them to add their services, and share this opportunity for inclusion in the service directory with your partnerships and networks.

Please make separate submissions for each service. The purpose of submitting individual services offered by your organisation is to benefit the individual searching the directory to understand the specific support options available to them.

Adding your service

Please follow the instructions below and the attached guide to add each service to the directory.

The attached guide outlines the following:

  1. Eligibility criteria
  2. Exclusion criteria
  3. Service type
  4. Public Health Agency quality standards  
  5. Information accuracy and completeness
  6. Information required
  7. Content guidelines
  8. Verification and updates
  9. Consent

Setting up your Minding Your Head account

  • Your username is the email address used to receive this correspondence.
  • Using this email address please follow this link [Reset your password | Minding Your Head] to generate a temporary password. You will then be able to set a new password and update your organisation’s contact details and add information for all your organisations services.
  • Remember to make separate submissions for each service.

Adding service submission details

  • Refer to the attached guide for details.
  • If you wish to add email information to your submission form please do not use personalised email addresses such as ‘joe.bloggs@’, instead use generic email addresses such as ‘info@’.

If you would like to remove your service from the Minding Your Head website and contact list, please respond ‘opt out’ to this email.  

Email any queries to myh@hscni.net  

Family Support Services Survey

Focusing on families is your chance to share your views and ideas on improving family support services in Northern Ireland. 

This survey will inform the family support strategy in Northern Ireland, and we want to hear the views of children, young people and parents/carers as well as practitioners. This short, anonymous survey covers five key areas:

  • Purpose of family support services
  • Core values
  • Most valued types of support
  • Future service models
  • Making a difference to families

Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FocusingonFamilies25

Poster with hands holding cut out picture of 4 people, text and QR code

Poster with hands holding cut out picture of 4 people, text and QR code