Improving the lives of children in Lisburn

An innovative programme in Lisburn is improving the long-term prospects of children, young people and families living in deprived areas of the city.

The Early Intervention Lisburn Project was first launched by the Resurgam Community Development Trust in 2011. By supporting parents with a range of services, the project is helping to prevent problems escalating to crisis point.

Instilling positive health and lifestyle messages in young children and engaging better with families will ensure children are more likely to perform better at school, become more resilient in their response to challenge and develop into healthy adults.

As part of the project, a number of programmes have been rolled-out, including ‘Incredible Years’ , which helps parents understand and manage their child’s behaviour better. Funding for this project was provided by the Department for Social Development and the Public Health Agency (PHA).

Chris Totten, Head of Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement (South East) at PHA, explained: “What happens in the early stages of life, and in particular before a child enters school, will impact significantly on their growth and development throughout their school years and also their long-term health, wellbeing and life chances.

“That is why this work is so important, and I want to congratulate all involved and encourage members of the community to find out more about what is on offer.

“There is substantial evidence that investing at the earliest point possible in a child’s life will produce better outcomes in terms of their mental and physical health, chances of employment, reduction in welfare reliance and involvement in the criminal justice system in the long term.

“If we intervene early enough, we can give children a vital social and emotional foundation which will help to keep them happy, healthy and achieving throughout their lives and, above all, equip them to raise children of their own who will also enjoy greater levels of wellbeing.”

Chair of the Early Intervention Board and Director of Resurgam Community Development Trust, Adrian Bird, said: “We recognise that parenting is not easy and that all parents and carers need support at times – some more than others depending on their circumstances.

“Every family is unique, and parents and carers are generally the people who know what’s best for their children, so we want to provide opportunities to engage them in a meaningful way that will help to shape the services that are and will be available in Lisburn.”

To find more about the Early Intervention Lisburn Project or to get involved, check out www.resurgamtrust.co.uk or www.facebook.com/TheResurgamTrust