Belfast Central Mission

Supporting those who need it most

• Who we are
• What we do
• How to Help
• Conference Facilities

Worship

• Worship

Older People

• LITE 60+
• Kirk House
• Adult Holiday Programme
• Wednesday Lunch Club
• Christmas Support
• Befriending Scheme
• Tea Dances

Young People

• The LITE project (16-25)
• Cross Community Holidays
• Quayside Project
• Christmas Toy Programme
• Anderson House
• The EAGLE Project
• Mentoring

Quayside Project

Aims

• To support young people to make the transition to independent living.
• To support young people entering education, training or employment.
• To teach social and life skills, develop self esteem and build family relationships
• To provide emotional and practical support.

We do this through the following services:

Parent Support Team

Currently the Parent Support Worker and the part time Support Worker offer one to one support, formal group work and informal peer support groups to young parents. Advice and support are provided on all issues relating to parenting, for instance, healthy eating, personal care when pregnant, positive parenting techniques, stimulating play and the importance of peer support.

It is hoped that we will be able to introduce a peer educator's role within the team in the near future.

Therapeutic Counselling Service

This service, based at Newtownards, was set up in November 2003 is currently facilitated by UKCP Psychotherapist/Family Therapist Annette Macartain and is provided to young people 16-25 yrs in North Down who have had experience of living in care. We use a private counselling room in the 16-25 Project to meet with each young person, usually on a weekly basis for an hour and involvement can range from one session only to 25 or 30 sessions.

The young people with whom the service has worked to date come with complex needs and myriad concerns. These include:

• self injurious behaviour or depression
• emotional and psychological trauma
• homelessness
• attachment problems or relationship difficulties
• the struggles of young parenthood and parenting capacity
• addictive behaviours
• lack of self-worth and self-belief
• health issues, including eating disorders

The young people may demonstrate several or all of the above needs and although many of those we work with comment that the work with us can be hard, they find it very useful.

We are keen to develop our service and to offer it as a support both to foster families who are struggling with placements and to younger children in care. It is our aim to provide ongoing, flexible support to the children during their time in residential care, and to assist in the maintenance of links with their families/carers, where this would be of benefit to the young person. The work is challenging and demanding but also enriching, and it is a privilege to work with the young people.

Personal Advisers

Personal Advisers provide one-to-one advice and support for young people aged 16-21 yrs and participate in the assessment and preparation of the Pathway Plan and subsequent reviews.