Family affair!

This programme doesn’t offer a quick ‘fix’ but encourages parents to reflect on themselves and offers a host of ideas and strategies to manage their children more easily.

Coleraine Sure Start has offered a Nurturing Programme in Ballysally Community Centre for a number of years and all those who take part find it extremely useful within their own family settings.

The Nurturing Programme is for all parents and helps develops relationship skills in families from all social backgrounds whatever their level of need and it is effective both for parents who are already confident with their role and as an intervention.

Coleraine Sure Start regularly run the Nurturing programme in Ballysally Youth and Community Centre, Harpur’s Hill Children and Family Centre, West Bann Development Centre and Causeway Women’s Aid.

This Programme was delivered by two facilitators who are members of the Family Visiting Team at Harpur’s Hill Children and Family Centre.

The facilitators said: “This programme gives families a chance to gain ideas in relation to parenting skills – and to get the best out of family life.”

Sure Start works with families with children aged four and under and aims to promote the development of pre-school children to ensure they are ready to flourish when they get to school.

They are a partnership organisation that delivers a wide range of support activities to parents and families living in the following areas: Ballysally, Harpur’s Hill, The Heights, Killowen, Millburn, Windyhall and the town centre.

Activities include Ante-Natal Programmes; Teen-Ante-Natal and Parenting Programmes; Parents and Toddlers; Baby Massage; Baby Yoga; free home safety equipment; drop-in groups; Breast-feeding support; the Sure Start Two Year Old Programme; Family Visiting Team to name but a few.