The Families Together project involves young children and their parents working and playing together as a family unit and exploring their role in the community.  Specific programmes are aimed at young mums and dads, providing independent assistance and advice on a range of subjects. 

Vision

To be an innovative project prioritising children through family initiated and community based activities to achieve the goals of family unity and improved community relations

Aims

•     To develop a family based programme that encourages parents/carers and children to spend quality time together and to promote the family unit

•     To promote increased mutual understanding between families within geographically defined areas and to reach out to others from different cultural and religious traditions – at a family level

•    To give children and parents access to activities and events that will develop new skills, encourage personal growth, neighbourhood support and develop a sense of belonging within communities

•    To give parents an opportunity to become involved in the project and their community and to develop skills that will add to the sustainability of the project.

Where?

Families Together works across the Borough delivering a weekly programme of activities as well as organising monthly family outings and events.

How?

Participation is voluntary and service users can self refer or be referred by the Housing Executive, Social Workers, GP’s, other Voluntary Organisations or Community Associations. A family visit will be arranged by a Support Worker from the YMCA who will discuss the family need for support and the type of activity they would most like to engage in.

Every Child Matters

Families Together works to deliver outcomes in line with the Every Child Matters national framework, building services around the needs of children and young people so that we maximise opportunity and minimise risk.

The five outcome areas are:

Being Healthy — enjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle 

Staying Safe — being protected from harm and neglect and growing up able to look after themselves Enjoying & Achieving — getting the most out of life and developing broad skills for adulthood

Making a Positive Contribution — to the community and to society and not engaging in anti-social or offending behaviour

Economic Well-being — not being prevented by economic disadvantage from achieving their full potential in life. 

What participants say …

 “The Families Together Programme has been a life saver for me.  My son aged 5 years has ADHD and getting out on family outings is very difficult.  The summer trips and other outings as well as the After School Clubs have been wonderful for him and his sister.  The day time courses have allowed me to get out of the house and make friends to help me feel less isolated as I’m not working while my children are small” 

“I would be lost without the YMCA and the Families Together Programme has been brilliant.  My husband comes down to play pool and enjoys socialising while I enjoy the various courses from computers to glass painting.  My baby son loves being in the crèche and my older children come to the Summer Scheme and youth clubs”.

Build self esteem 

Raise awareness of choices & information sources 

Encourage an improved state of health 

Help build links into the local community

Strengthen relationships within the family

If you’d like to find out any more about Families Together, call Margie Gilliland on 028 9145 4290 (Opt.3) or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it