sunflower circle ni

16/06/2026

Proud moment 🤗

We have a full page in the ballymena guardian today 🥰

Our opening day party is nearly fully booked but please feel free to reach out for information on our other weekly events and sessions 🌻🎉

14/06/2026

A little pocket of sensory heaven in Paris 💙🪼

12/06/2026

Continuing the rollout of safeguarding and protection training to the community-based youth work sector - this afternoon, 12 workers from Pennyburn youth club programmes, Lower Ormeau Youth Hub, LORAG, The Resurgam Youth Initiative, Cliftonville Community Centre, Holy Trinity Youth Centre, Benbradagh Community Support, and sunflower circle ni all completed their Designated Officer training.

Details of our next safeguarding training opportunities in June are available on our website:

https://www.youthworkalliance.com/upcomingtraining.php

And also via our new Online Portal for Local Organisations.

11/06/2026

11/06/2026

I have a little secret 🫣🫣

As we get closer to celebrating The Sunflower Circle's first birthday and the opening of our new facilities, I've found myself reflecting on just how far we've come.
As a single parent of a child with additional needs, this journey has been deeply personal. The Sunflower Circle was born from a desire to create the kind of support, understanding, and inclusive opportunities that so many families, including my own, need.
The last year has been one of the most challenging of my life. Balancing parenting, caring responsibilities, work, and building a community organisation from the ground up hasn't always been easy. There have been moments when I've felt exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure how I would keep going.
But every challenge has been worth it.
Knowing that we're creating a space where children can feel accepted, families can feel supported, and no one has to face their journey alone makes it all worthwhile. Our new sensory room and facilities represent hope, inclusion, and opportunity for so many families in our community.
I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together in just one year. To every family who has attended a session, every volunteer who has given their time, and every person who has supported our vision – thank you from the bottom of my heart.
We're not quite there yet, but we're getting closer every day. I can't wait to welcome you all and celebrate this next chapter together at our Grand Opening and 1st Birthday Celebration on 19th July.
As always, booking will be essential. We carefully manage numbers at our events to help reduce sensory overwhelm and ensure that every child and family can enjoy the experience in a comfortable, safe, and inclusive environment.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Here's to one incredible year of The Sunflower Circle, and to everything that's still to come. 🌻💛

07/06/2026

Have you completed our Neurodiversity Access & Inclusion Survey yet?

We’re still gathering experiences from neurodivergent people and families about what helps, and what makes it harder to attend community events and pop-up activities.

Sometimes it’s not one big barrier.

It’s the small things that add up:
🧠 Sensory environments
📍 Finding your way around
📢 Clear information before the event
🤝 Feeling welcome and included
⏰ Knowing what to expect

Your experiences can help us understand what works and what needs to change.

The survey:
✅ Takes around 10 minutes
✅ Is completely anonymous
✅ Will help create a practical guide for event organisers

This project is being delivered by Neurodiversity SPARK and Diverse Minds Events, with The Institute of Child Education and Psychology - ICEP Europe, supporting as our research partner.

If you’d like to take part, you can complete the survey here:

👇
https://www.neurodiversityspark.com/neurodiversity-accessibility-survey/

Please share with anyone who might be interested. Every response helps build a clearer picture of what truly inclusive community spaces look like.

04/06/2026

Play is more than just fun—it's how children learn, build friendships, develop confidence, and discover where they belong. 🌈

When play is inclusive, every child has the opportunity to participate, connect with others, and thrive. Inclusive play helps children celebrate differences, develop empathy, and create meaningful relationships that can last a lifetime.

By creating welcoming environments and opportunities for all children to play together, we're helping to build kinder, more understanding communities for the future.

Because every child deserves the chance to play, belong, and be included. 💛