Category Archives: Southern Outcomes Group

Family Support Hub Celebration Event – June 2022

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On 24 June 2022 the CYPSP Support Team, Family Support Hub (Hub) Coordinators, Hub members and other integral Partners came together for the first time since 2018, to reflect on and celebrate the work of the Hubs with particular focus on the work of the Hubs and members during the pandemic.

The day also provided an opportunity for Bronwyn Campbell to meet Hub Coordinators in person for the first time since taking up the role of Regional Family Support Hub Coordinator within the Health & Social Care Board (now SPPG/DoH) at the beginning of January 2022.

Aidan Dawson, Chief Executive of the Public Health Agency and CYPSP Chairperson, opened the event, reflecting on the achievements of the Hubs.

Valerie Maxwell (Children’s Services Planning & Information Manager, SPPG/DoH) presented an animated video summarising the 2021/22 Annual Report, before Bronwyn Campbell addressed the Coordinators.

Presentations followed from Coordinators and Hub members – Lisa Grant (Craigavon & Portadown Hub), Alison Slater (Newry Hub), Joanne McCourt (Belfast Central Mission), Claire Larkin (Northern Area Hubs) and Sharon Nelson (Springfield & Whiterock Hub) who showcased how they adapted and changed their services in creative ways to enabled them to continue to meet the needs of the families and young people despite lockdown.

James Gallagher from Lifeline gave a fantastic presentation on “Caring for the Caregiver” and Eugene Mone from Barnardo’s brought along the Sensory Overload Virtual Reality Experience, a really powerful and thought provoking piece of work.

After a group exercise facilitated by Maxine Gibson (Children’s Services Planning Professional Advisor, SPPG/DoH) looking at what Coordinators seen as the challenges facing the Hubs in the next 12 months and how to rise to these challenges, the event was brought to a close by Maurice Leeson (Programme Manager Partnerships, Emotional Health & Wellbeing, CAMHS and Disability, SPPG/DoH).  This was particularly fitting given that Maurice played such a central role in the establishment of the Hub Network.

 

Southern Area FYI – Edition 89

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Welcome to the 89th edition of our information bulletin, ‘FYI’ (For Your Information).

Download your copy here

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

Once again, we have a range of opportunities, activities and programmes for children, young people and parents across the Southern Area. These are all led by recognised providers and most are free, so, if you think it may be relevant to you, then sign up! We also encourage all readers to share with colleagues, friends and families.

On Page 41 you will see how you can find out or share any information on upcoming activities and events by attending one (or more!) of our locality planning groups. To find out more about these groups and their purpose, contact Darren at localityplanning@ci-ni.org.uk.

See you in a fortnight!

Joanne Patterson & Darren Curtis, Locality Development Team, Southern Area

Summer Gets Active 2022

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8 Days, 13 Activities, 50 Peer Mentors, 75 Children, 48 Families and 9 Nationalities…

It was another busy summer at Portadown Gets Active, with an excellent team of peer mentors who delivered 7 of the workshops over the 2 weeks. A fantastic family day took place with a visit from Jurassic LOC-down and lots of Jurassic-themed activities ran across the week!

Find out more about the Summer Gets Active 2022 programme and about what participating children, young people and families thought of the experience HERE

Next up, Halloween’s “Monsters Inc Gets Active”…

(The aims of Portadown Gets Active (PGA) are to provide Primary School age children, who are eligible for free school meals, with a healthy breakfast and lunch outside of school term-time, as well as providing opportunities to learn something new, participate in physical activities and most importantly have fun with their peers. Referrals also come through the Craigavon & Banbridge Family Support Hub (FSH) , Community Intercultural Programme, Family Intervention and SHSCT. Children from Portadown, Craigavon, Lurgan and Banbridge attend the Programme. Oasis Youth, PGA’s lead community partner, works in partnership with key agencies and organisation to ensure PGA has run successfully since 2017.)

Southern Area FYI Newsletter Issue 87

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Welcome to the 87th edition of our information bulletin, ‘FYI’ (For Your Information).

Download Issue 87 here

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

We hope you have had a good summer and enjoyed some time off to recharge batteries.

Since our last edition of ‘FYI’, a month ago, we have gathered a massive amount of information, opportunities and resources for practitioners, parents/caregivers and children & young people. As always we have categorised these into themes, at the front-end of the newsletter, followed by geographic areas at the end.

You will see on Slide 3 a call for all our LPG members to complete a short survey to help us ensure Locality Planning Groups are effective as they can be.  Slide 4 also asks for information to help map current support available to meet the cost of living crises. Then we have our new information leaflet to tell you all about who we are and what we do.

Joanne Patterson & Darren Curtis, Locality Development Team, Southern Area

 

School Uniform Recycling Toolkit

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Having identified poverty as a critical factor which can adversely affect families and which has been further exacerbated by the impact of Brexit and Covid-19 pandemic in recent years, members of both the Dungannon and Mid Ulster LPGs have co-produced a practical toolkit to support schools in the running of a School Uniform Recycling Initiative.

The Toolkit offers a practical resource for schools in running a School Uniform Recycling Initiative and includes handy tips, suggested structures for discussion, templates to adapt and use, and links to further reading and resources.

Although the School Uniform Recycling Toolkit was produced for the Mid Ulster Council area, it can be adapted and used across NI-wide settings.

Thanks to members of both the Dungannon and Mid Ulster Locality Planning Groups (LPGs): local partnerships working towards improving outcomes for children, young people and families across Northern Ireland.

Thanks to the PTA of Magherafelt High School for their support and feedback on the Toolkit and to those participating schools in the Mid Ulster area.

Thanks also to the authors/owners of the various resources and further reading we have included throughout the Toolkit.

Download School Uniform Recycling Tool Kit

Download Uniform Inventory Spreadsheet

For any clarification or assistance in using/adapting the School Uniform Recycling Toolkit, please contact one of the following Locality Planning Co-ordinators based on the geographic area of your school:

Northern Health & Social Care Trust area: Emma McElhone(Emma.McElhone@northerntrust.hscni.net)

Southern Health & Social Care Trust area: Darren Curtis (localityplanning@ci-ni.org.uk)