FAMILY CARING CENTRE
OVERVIEW
Summary of Current Services
This is a Telephone Support & Alert Befriending service, which has been in operation since April 2008. The service aims to reduce the feelings of fear and isolation felt by the elderly and other vulnerable members of our community building on social inclusion and building local, social capacity. This is achieved by contacting each person via telephone, on agreed week-days at a pre-arranged time.
This project is funded by the Public Health Agency (PHA).
Our Mental Health Support Group works on the core principles of support, acceptance and understanding and are provided through a holistic programme of alternative therapies and activities.
This program is funded by NHSCT.
Depression Support Group
Our Depression Support Group meets every other Thursday morning 9.30-11am and is available to all in the local community, including residents living in Crumlin, Templepatrick, Parkgate, Antrim, Randalstown and Toome. Supported by Aware NI, the group is hosted by trained Facilitators in a safe, respectful and confidential environment. Anyone experiencing depression currently, or in the past, and feel they might benefit from talking about how they are feeling can join the group.
Benefits to the group member include, knowing you are not the only one with the illness. You will have the opportunity to share feelings and get support from other group members through talking, whilst learning more about the illness and new ways to cope, through shared experiences. You may also be able to support others in the group.
This is a fun, informal group which seeks to reduce feelings of fear and isolation whilst providing the opportunity to ‘reconnect’ with your local community.
Anyone can attend this group where you can enjoy pleasant company, refreshments, engaging activities, and a good old natter!!
The group meets every Tuesday from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.
Transportation can be provided for residents living within the local Antrim area.
Additional information:
Accommodation is provided for counsellors from organisations such as ‘Nexus’ to meet with clients in a safe, comfortable and confidential environment.
We also support supervised ‘Child Contact’ meetings on behalf of NHSCT who work with the ‘Children with Disabilities’ and Looked After Children’s Teams.
Further space is provided for the ‘Community Addictions’ Team NHSCT to meet with clients. We continue to be in a position to provide additional office space and meeting rooms for other external users, who meet with the ethos of the Family Caring Centre.
The 'Ladies Shed'
Antrim was warmly welcomed by the Family Caring Centre in March 2024 and they currently occupy one of our portacabins from Mon-Friday each week, providing the opportunity for members to forge new friendships, delve into craftwork, share or learn skills, or simply enjoy the company of other women. Members have the freedom to choose their activities, with participation always optional and all women over the age of 18 and are warmly welcomed.
Views of stakeholders:
How do you benefit from attending the Family Caring Centre?
- it gets me out of the house, ideas for new hobbies, helps with my self-confidence it keeps me occupied, everyone is so non-judgemental.
-gets me out and about as I live alone, meeting new people and having a good chat
-being able to go out on my own, the ladies are just so positive and make a bad day good.
-chatting, company, making things, getting out and about.
-meeting people my own age, learning new skills and good company.
What do you enjoy doing?
-chatting, crotchet, arts and crafts
-crotchet, bingo, flower arranging, positivity board
-I love it all
-crotchet, arts and crafts, quizzes
-painting
How are you finding the activities and is there anything we could try or change?
-more adult activities
-computers and basic skills
-would love to attend more than once a week
-gardening and pottery
1-5 Somerset Park
Antrim
BT41 2TE
Tel: 02894 464619