Contact a Family provides support, advice and information for families with disabled children, no matter what their condition or disability
The following is a list of some of the local parent support groups and organisations that offer support and activities to parents, children and young peaople in Northern Ireland. Before going along to any meetings, please give the named contact a call on the telephone number mentioned to check times, dates and venues as these may have changed to those listed.
Please note, Contact a Family is not responsible for the content of any external websites that are linked through these pages. If you know any of these details are incorrect, please let us know.
Contact a Family Northern Ireland has details of a number of local support groups throughout the region. If a local group to you isn't listed below, please contact us on Tel: 028 9262 7552 or e-mail: nireland.office@cafamily.org.uk and we will do our best to help.
Autism NI Support groups - twenty groups N Ireland wide
Provide support and information, access to literature, access to others in similar circumstances, regular family days out, speakers and attendance at conferences. There is a list of all the groups at the following link :
http://www.autismni.org/familysupport/branches.asp
Autism NI - Down Branch
Moira Denvir, 4 Slaney Park, Downpatrick, Co Down BT30 6PH
Tel: 028 44 615307 (evening - answerphone available)/Paula Trainor, 028 437 68411
Support group mainly for parents, carers and people with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), but welcome parents and carers of children, young people and adults with any disability who need support. Provide support and information, access to literature, access to others in similar circumstances, regular family days out, speakers and attendance at conferences.
Meet at 8.30pm on the third Wednesday of each month at the Murlough Tavern, Dundrum.
ADD-NI
86 Eglantine Ave,Belfast,BT9 6EU
Tel: 028 90 200 110
Email: hello@addni.net
Web:www.addni.net
Support Services: Telephone Helpline, an information, support and advocacy service and a bi-monthly support meeting. Self, Parental and Professional Referred Services: ADDNI's Parenting Programme, Age appropriate therapeutic group intervention programmes for young people with an ADHD / ADD diagnoses, art therapy, individual counselling, sibling support programme.
Ballymena - Little Acorns
Meetings on again...give Tracey a call
Sure Start group for children with additional needs
If you have a child with additional needs and want advice on a range of subjects, or maybe just want to chat with other parents in a similar situation then come along to the group in Ballykeel Ballymena.
There are creche places available but they are limited so please phone Tracey on 028 25643555.
Brookfield Parent Support Group- ASD
This support group which is a satellite of the Lisburn Branch meet;
When: The last Thursday of the month
Venue: Brookfield School, Moira
Time: 10.30 - 12 noon.
For further information contact Susan McCartney on 07515 576 293
Connect- NEW! parent support group
For all parents and carers in the Dromore/Banbridge/
At Dromore Nursery School, 18 Banbridge Rd, Dromore
For further information about the next meeting or further help contact Judith Clarke on 07764 200 870 or Niamh Shiells on 07985 064 908
Also see the group on Facebook!
CONKeRs - Lisburn Support Group Also on Facebook!
Sarah Hillis, mum of Luke, Hope and Imogen has set up an informal group to offer support to local families of children with complex needs and severe disability.
The group may be small with about 8 families at present but hopes to reach out to as many families in the area as possible, offering support, a place to share your experiences and be listened to by like minded people.
The group meets every 3rd Wednesday in the month
10.30 am onwards
If you are interested in coming for a coffee and a chat please email me keepsmiling.sarah@googlemail.com
to find out more and go along yourself, contact Sarah on 077364 67588 or 028 925 86180.
New! DYSPRAXIA ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND-N Ireland Branch
A support group for parents, teenagers, adults, professionals and anyone with an interest in the promotion of Dyspraxia awareness.
Date and Time:Thursday 12th May 2011,7.30 – 9.30 pm
Venue: in Cookstown Leisure Centre
Booking Advisable
Tel: 028 8773 8626 or email: dysprax@btinternet.com
Also in attendance will be someone from the Dyspraxia Association of Ireland to officially launch this new branch.
http://www.dyspraxia.ie
Group Knights Junior Wheelchair Sports Club
Venue: Belfast Indoor Tennis Centre and Ozone Complex, Belfast
Times: every Saturday 11am-1pm
Cost: FREE
Tel: Jim Agnew on 07821 320072
Details: The club is multi-sport and introduces young people to fun, fitness and a wide range of different sports including wheelchair basketball, football, tennis, badminton, new age kurling and more. Aimed at primary and secondary aged children with mobility disorders, the club hopes to achieve exercise for kids through various sporting activities and to create an inclusive social experience through sport.
Heartbeat-NI
Heartbeat-Ni is a parent-led voluntary charity whose aims are to provide emotional and practical support to families who have children with heart conditions. We will provide financial support to Clark Clinic at The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, the paediatric cardiac centre for Northern Ireland. We work closely with CHD-NI in raising awareness of congenital and acquired heart disease in children. Affiliated to Children's Heart Federation who are the leading children's heart charity and the umbrella body for voluntary children's heart charities.
Check our website for more details
.
For more information and to make contact please call 028 4376 8786/ 07801 370297, or email: emailmckibbin@btinternet.com or info@heartbeatni.com
Horizon sure Start, Carrickfergus
NEW! Special needs parent support group.
Running every fortnight in the Sands Court premises at Sunnylands Primary School, Sunnylands Avenue, Carrickfergus.
meeting time 1pm- 2.30pm
Contact Susan Stevenson for more information on tel 93 359 734
Larne - Little Acorns
Sure Start group for children with additional needs
Meet the 1st Monday of each month.
If you have a child with additional needs and want advice on a range of subjects, or maybe just want to chat with other parents in a similar situation then come along to one of this group at Larne Surestart.
Contact:Kim Watson, Support Worker
Venue:Horizon SureStart,Larne Parental Support Project,43 Fairway,Larne,BT40 2BG
Tel. No. 02828 276044
NI-ADD Support Centre (ADHD & Related Disorders)
Sarah Salters, 71 Eglantine Avenue, Belfast BT9 6EW
Tel: 028 90 200110 (Mon-Thurs 9am-4.30pm, Fri 9am-2.30pm, answerphone available)
e-mail: niaddfsguk@netscape.net
Web: http://www.ni-add.org.uk
Meet on the first Tuesday of every month and parents use the centre as needed. Provide ADHD focused behaviour management programmes, support to children and young people, individual counselling for children, young people and adults affected by the condition, an information service, telephone help and advice line, book and video library, research projects and awareness raising conferences.
Area(s) covered: all of Northern Ireland.
NI ME Association
Mrs Jo Calder, 28 Bedford Street, Belfast BT2 7FE
Tel: 028 90 439831 (24 hour information line)
e-mail: nimeaenquiry@hotmail.com
Web: http://www.nimea.org
Offers supports and information to all those affected by ME with separate networks for children, teens and parents and young adults. Membership is free. Advice is available on benefits, education and medical issues through their advisers.
P2P Autism
e-mail: p2pautism@yahoo.com
Small advocacy group for parents in the Belfast region. They can be contacted via e-mail.
Parents Support Group - SureStart Downpatrick
Join this enthusiastic and supportive group of parents of children with disabilities from the local area in a warm and welcoming environment.
They meet every Monday morning at 10.30am in the Sure Start Centre, Mount Crescent, Downpatrick BT30 6AF
Contact Oonagh McClean for further details at 028 44613630
Phoenix ADHD Project
Providing direct support to children and young people with ADHD and their families.
Contact Details: Helen Christie, 10A Lodge Road , Coleraine, BT52 1NB
Tel:028 7000 2050
website: http://www.phoenixadhdproject
SNAP – special needs and parents (South Down)
Web: http://www.snap-ni.co.uk/
Offers support for parents of special needs children and young adults in the South Down area. At present 40 families are registered with SNAP. Parents meet monthly in Kilmorey Arms Hotel, Kilkeel to have a cup of tea/coffee, chat, exchange views and relax. Often guest speakers are invited. In conjunction with Orana Children and Family Centre, Newry, a children’s’ club is held on one Saturday per month. This is located in the Mourne Stimulus Day Centre, Council Road, Kilkeel.
Stephen Hartley Down's Syndrome Support Group
To enhance the potential and opportunities of those affected by Down's Syndrome
Meet every last Thursday of the month for tea/coffee, chat and mutual support - usually 7.30pm - 9.30pm but check
Venue: Horn Drive Community Centre, 44a Horn Drive, Belfast
Contacts:Lisburn-Emma 92 689 101, West Belfast-Ann Marie 90 915 966, S Belfast-William 90 220 974, Antrim-Siobhan 94 423 919, Dunmurry-Tina 90 625 0446 or
email: juliefarrelly@hotmail.com
South Armagh Parents Group
Jacinta Reel, Women & Family Initiative, Tullmacreeve Road, Mullabawn. BT35 9RD
Tel: 028 3088 9073
email:wfhealth@btconnect.com
A small but very friendly and enthusiastic group of parents who meet once a month at Mullabawn. Have a chat, enjoy their hospitality and support and gain insight into children's disability issues, education issues and more as they share their knowledge and advice with each other. For more information about upcoming group dates and other support offered in the area contact Jacinta.
TinyLife
33 Ballynahinch Road, Carryduff, Belfast, BT8 8EH
Tel: 028 90815050
Fax: 02890 815850
e-mail: info@tinylife.org.uk
Web: http://www.tinylife.org.uk
Provide families with emotional and practical support and provide information to professionals and parents-to-be to ensure that every pregnancy has the best chance of a healthy outcome and a healthy baby. They also provide a breast pump loan service, parent support groups and a resource and information library. Support is available to families with preterm, ill and disabled babies, and multiples.
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