Urban Villages Focus Magazine ISSUE 9

NORTH BELFAST Ardoyne & Greater Ballysillan

Centre Manager Kelly Harrison explained: ‘Staff had noticed that anxiety issues prevented many of the parents from going places with their children. Looking at triggers that affect their well-being has brought noticeable changes. ’‘It teaches you how to breathe, relax. You pass it on to your children.’ said Lauren about the mindfulness training. Caroline Houston, the coordinator, told us: ‘Parents meet twice a week, on Thursday with a crèche for younger children. They’ve been learning about challenging behaviours, baby brain stimulation, sensory and messy play, healthy eating on a budget…on Wednesday the children’s focus on sports, cooking and imaginative play. It is such a positive programme!’

Mark McKenzie, 26-years old from Sunningdale, North Belfast, is delighted to have found a job with support from the Path to Employment (P2E) programme, a European Social Fund project match funded by the Urban Villages Initiative and Belfast City Council. After years of trying to get into paid employment, and having qualified from a short We chatted with some of the mothers. Lauren’s highlight was First Aid; ‘it was practical and it really helps in day to day life.’ Kathleen enjoyed the historical Belfast bus tour: ‘I learnt a lot about other communities. I want to do more cross- community cultural tours.’ Lauren found ASD training invaluable: ‘I have a daughter with autism. It helps me understand her better, give her new ways of coping’ and Kathleen said behaviour training helped her manage her child’s angers, ‘especially learning from other parents.’ Alex and Tanya both said they would be lost without the group. Kelly added: ‘because it’s been a long-term project, participants have become close, they trust and support each other.’

Healthy Active Living for Families Benview Community Centre’s Healthy Active Living for Families has worked with parents and their children to improve health outcomes for the whole family.

PROFILE: Mark McKenzie Path to Employment Programme

Urban Villages Initiative | Focus Magazine Issue 9