Summer 2010
Birthday celebrations for Action For Children
Stars of stage and screen are helping Action for Children Northern Ireland to celebrate its 10th anniversary, as the charity’s staff and volunteers mark the occasion by baking a birthday cake using a special recipe provided by celebrity chef Gary Rhodes.
Well-known names from Northern Ireland, including Kenneth Branagh, Dermot Murnaghan, Zöe Salmon and Eamonn Holmes, have sent messages of congratulations to the charity.
Dawn Shaw, Action for Children Operational Director of Children’s Services for Northern Ireland, said: “We are very proud of our achievements in Northern Ireland over the past 10 years, and are delighted to be celebrating this anniversary.
“As we set out on our next decade of making a difference to people’s lives, we are determined to do all that we can to support the thousands of children, young people and their families across Northern Ireland who are facing challenging times.”
Ten years on from establishing a three-room office on Malone Road in Belfast, Action for Children Northern Ireland today employs almost 200 staff members and supports over 5,000 of Northern Ireland’s most vulnerable children, young people and families.
Its life-changing work is carried out through over 15 diverse projects – including family centres, Sure Starts, fostering initiatives and young carer services – in Antrim, Armagh, Derry/ Londonderry, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Belfast and greater Belfast.
Gary Rhodes, whose black cherry Victoria sponge birthday cake is being baked by the charity across Northern Ireland, said: “A very special happy birthday to Action for Children Northern Ireland! Congratulations on this fantastic achievement and I hope you enjoy baking (and eating!) this cake as part of your celebrations.”
Messages of congratulations have also come from:
• Belfast-born actor and director Kenneth Branagh: "Happy Anniversary - congratulations on all the hard work, and thank you."
• Television presenter Zöe Salmon: "A very happy 10th Anniversary to Action for Children Northern Ireland! I hope you continue your fantastic work!"
• Journalist and television presenter Dermot Murnaghan: “Congratulations on 10 years of fantastic work to help support children, young people and their families in Northern Ireland. Keep up the good work!"
• Journalist and broadcaster Eamonn Holmes: "I'm delighted to wish Action for Children Northern Ireland happy tenth anniversary. I hope they can continue to support children and families facing challenging times."
Since Action for Children Northern Ireland’s first operational work at the Larne Parental Support Project in 2002, its successful projects have included:
• Ballymote Families Project, established in 2002 with links to Downpatrick SureStart, providing a much-needed play-based service for two-year-olds.
• Chance for Change, which in 2004 began an innovative focus on children’s emotional well-being.
• Sperrin Lakeland Floating Support Service, which in 2006 took the charity into a new area of work with older young people at risk of homelessness.
• A regional fostering service launched in 2006, rapidly becoming known for its excellent support to carers and to children and young people.
• The Waterside SureStart, which in 2007 saw a former pub become a vibrant place for children and parents to take part in a wide range of activities.
• A Mentoring Project, a partnership with Chance UK, which operates out of Clooney Family Centre in Londonderry/ Derry and teams up young people at risk of behavioural difficulties with mentors.
Earlier this year, the charity highlighted child neglect which affects up to 51,000* children in Northern Ireland, projecting images onto Belfast landmarks.
In 2008, new headquarters were established at Loughshore House, 10 Heron Road in Belfast. For further information please visit www.actionforchildren.org.uk.