Loneliness Awareness Week: the daily phone calls tackling loneliness -
Friday, 13 June 2025 - Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement
A community-based project in Antrim is helping to address loneliness and isolation experienced by older people with daily phone calls and support.
Good Morning Antrim, which is funded by the Public Health Agency (PHA), is a telephone befriending service where volunteers make daily phone calls to older people in Antrim and surrounding towns. This Loneliness Awareness Week (9-15 June), the PHA is highlighting the work of the organisation and the positive impact it has in the community.
Libby Higham, Coordinator of Good Morning Antrim at the Family Caring Centre, said: “These calls offer more than just friendly conversation. They are a vital connection, a source of comfort, a listening ear and a gateway to helpful local services. We can also signpost to other organisations that may be of support, depending on individual needs.
“In addition to easing loneliness, we offer an essential alert system. If we’re unable to reach someone, we immediately contact a pre-approved nominated person to help ensure everything is okay. This potentially life-saving aspect of our service provides peace of mind for both recipients and their families, knowing that someone is looking out for them.
“Since 2008, Good Morning Antrim has been powered by our dedicated, award-winning volunteers. Their warmth, commitment, and genuine care shine through every conversation.”
Libby Higham
One of those volunteers is 78-year-old John Robinson. A retired milkman, John has been with the service for nine years and volunteers every Friday which he says is something that helps him as much as the people he’s calling.
“Honestly, it’s the best day of my week,” John said. “I get to spend time with my fellow volunteers, share a few laughs and enjoy great company.
“Making my calls is such a rewarding experience. Over my years of volunteering, I’ve built real connections with the people I speak to. Many of them tell me how much they enjoy our chats – some even call me “son,” which I think is brilliant, especially at 78 years old!
“Coming here every Friday makes me realise just how lucky I am. When I leave, I always feel like I’ve done something worthwhile with my day – and hopefully made a difference in someone else’s.”
John Robinson
Heather Gillespie
Good Morning Antrim provides the service to older people in the town as well as Randalstown, Toome, Crumlin, Templepatrick and Parkgate.
Antrim resident Heather Gillespie who is 70-years-old, receives phone calls from volunteers Monday to Friday.
Heather said: “I love my morning calls and we chat about all sorts of things. I especially enjoy talking to some of them about my football team, Manchester United – even if it's just to have a bit of a moan about them at the moment!
“I'm blind and use a wheelchair, so I can’t leave the house without assistance. But that doesn’t hold me back. I absolutely love going to football matches, and with the help of a haptic device, I can hear what’s happening on the pitch and feel the atmosphere all around me.
“I also really enjoy hearing about what the volunteers are up to in their own lives and learning about events happening in my area. The COVID pandemic was the hardest time for me and I honestly don’t know how I would have gotten through it without Good Morning Antrim. They do a fantastic job and are truly wonderful people – I consider them my friends. Their morning calls give me something to look forward to and I feel less lonely and isolated.”
The Good Samaritan’s Service
We were truly honoured to attend this year's 'The Good Samaritan’s Service' at Belfast Cathedral. Along with 106 other deserving organisations, the Family Caring Centre was fortunate to receive a portion of the donations from the '2024 Black Santa Appeal' and 'The Belfast Charitable Society'.
The dedication and effort from everyone involved in this, is remarkable, and we are both humbled and proud of the appraisal.
The event featured beautiful music from the choir and Peter Corry, as well as an inspiring address from Dame Mary Peters, who graciously took the time to share a photo with us.
Be sure to keep an eye out for the *2025 Black Santa Sit Out Appeal* at Belfast Cathedral in December. Belfast Cathedral
February 2025
CHRISTMAS 2024
🎄✨ Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ✨🎄
The Family Caring Centre would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a joyful New Year! 🎅🎁
We’ve had a wonderful time celebrating the festive season with our Mental Health Support Group, Depression Support Group, Nibbles & Natter Group, and our amazing Good Morning Antrim Volunteers. The photos below capture some of the joy and togetherness from our fantastic Christmas parties and meals.
Thank you to everyone who helped make these celebrations so special. Here's to a bright and happy 2025! 🥳🎉
The Ladies Shed
The Family Caring Centre is thrilled to formally welcome 'The Ladies Shed' to our premises. They are a wonderful group of individuals with diverse skills, creating an incredibly warm and welcoming atmosphere for all who walk through their doors. We're eagerly anticipating collaborating with them to provide a variety of opportunities for the entire local community!
OVERNIGHT HOTEL TRIP
Our service users recently enjoyed a much-needed overnight trip at the accommodating Best Western Plus White Horse Hotel, where we even recruited a new volunteer driver! New friendships were formed, sparking excitement about the next destination. A heartfelt thanks to all the staff who worked extra hours to make this possible. Excellent job!
Joanne
The Family Caring Centre extends heartfelt thanks to Joanne Miller for her unwavering dedication and commitment to our mental health services over the past decade. We wish her the very best in her future endeavors. Additionally, we are delighted to welcome Joanne to our Good Morning Antrim Team of Volunteers!
Nibbles & Natter
Tuesdays from 10.30 am to 12.00 pm
Come along and enjoy a light meal, refreshments, a fund activity and a good old natter!
All Welcome
New Project 9th January 2024
Local transport is available to ensure everyone can join in.
All are welcome!
We kindly suggest a donation of £1.00.
We look forward to seeing you there! 😊
38 YEAR ANNIVERSARY & GRAND OPENING OF OUR PLATFROM LIFT
We would like to thank everyone who took the time to come and celebrate our '38 Year Anniversary' of providing services within our community.
Mayor, Councillor Mark Cooper BEM officially opened our platform lift which means our first floor will be accessible to all.
We would like to thank those who supported the installation of our lift including the Northern Health & Social Care Trust, the Public Health Agency, the McCall Foundation, Big Design Architects, CFM & Pollocks Lifts.
A Special tribute to NIHE for significant structural and engineering work.
Good Morning Antrim Volunteer Lunch
A very enjoyable lunch was had on Wednesday 30th May 2023, to celebrate and appreciate our award winning Volunteers for 'Volunteer Week'!!!
The food, service and banter was top notch
Thanks to our 'Good Morning Antrim' Coordinator Libby Higham for organising the event which took place at Massereene Golf Club, Antrim.
MAY 2023
Good Morning Antrim 'Winter Warmer Get Together'
What a lovely event we had yesterday with some of our 'Good Morning Antrim' Recipients for a 'Winter Warmer' get together!! Its always lovely to put a face to the name and share refreshments and information on other support services within our local community.
Thanks to our award winning Volunteers, Farranshane House for hosting us, YewTree Butchery & deli for delicious catering and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Loneliness Network for providing the funding to make it all possible!!
Our Recipients, Award Winning Volunteers and Staff
Sister Clement’s
legacy continues along with her precious white lilies and a plague in recognition of her work at the Family Caring Centre.
The Family Caring Centre would like to thank Paul Dunlop and John (Davy) Harvey from Antrim Together for helping us with some much needed external ground work!!! They turned up as promised, despite the torrential rain, and got the job done!!! Very much appreciated THANK YOU!!
July 2022
What a spectacular night at Theatre at the Mill to celebrate the Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council 'Spirit of Volunteering Awards'!!!
We managed to win 2 categories 'Covid 19 Community Impact Award' for our Good Morning Antrim, Volunteers and 'Newcomer to Volunteering Award' for our Leanne.
Joe was nominated for the 'Over 25 Years' Service Award and was also very pleased to also receive formal recognition.
For us, awards for volunteering are held in the upmost esteem!! Without volunteering, many services across the borough could not exist or meet service needs. We are proud it was our turn to be recognised, but also honour and respect the involvement of all volunteers, across the board. Well done to everyone!!!
“The broadest, and maybe the most meaningful definition of volunteering: Doing more than you have to because you want to, in a cause you consider good" – Ivan Scheier
SPIRIT OF VOLUN-TEERS AWARDS
2022
BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL
We are very proud to announce that our Manager Louise Goodman (McIlwee) has been listed on the Queens 2022 New Years Honours List to receive the British Empire Medal: for her services to the Mental and Physical Wellbeing to vulnerable people in County Antrim'.
Louise’s career prior to and during her almost 15 years at the Family Caring Centre has involved Military Service, Retail Management, Advocacy, Counselling - accredited by the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists and a Family Mediator for Family Mediation Northern Ireland.
Well done Louise BEM
Staff, volunteers, service users and friends of the Family Caring Centre would like to congratulate Louise on this well deserved award!
What a great start to 2022! May we also take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year
Good Morning Antrim
Family Caring Centre
This video recorded by Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council to showcase the work of Good Morning Antrim Services during covid-19 at their cooperate event
Family Caring Centre making it in to the Antrim Guardian for our COVID-19 Response work!
6 May, 2020
FIRST STEPS CRECHE NEWS
Visit from the Mayor
Our centre Manager Louise Goodman and Chairperson Noreen McClelland were delighted to welcome the Mayor Alderman Billy Webb to our centre on Wednesday 9th March 2022 to highlight our current services.
NEW BUS SIGNAGE
Thank you to Charlene from Devine Designs NI
