Family Routes

04/09/2026

After the summer holidays our monthly newsletter is back! Including:
☀️Feedback from our 1st ever Summer Programme
🗓️Updates on upcoming events
Link for registration for Nature Based Family Wellbeing Event
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/mtu7DsKv2y

😍Also events and courses from our partner The Creative Psychotherapist - Siobhan Wilson - McGlinchey
Email: [email protected]

As always we are available by phone or email if you have any queries about 1-1 or group therapy as well. ☎️📧

17/08/2026

Some amazing opportunities for young people through the Banter Project!

This summer, Backstage Pass is offering adopted young people aged 18 to 24 exciting opportunities to explore behind the scenes of leading local employers through the Banter Project in Northern Ireland.

This year's theme is 'Tourism and hospitality' including cruise ships, world-class visitor attractions, and luxury hospitality venues, providing valuable insight into career pathways, workplace environments, and the people who make these experiences possible.

🗓️24th August - 'All Aboard' - cruise ship in behind the scenes, followed by Belfast street art walking tour.

🗓️25th August - 'Totally Titanic' - world-class visitor experiences of high-end hotels & experiences.

🗓️26th August - 'The Guest Experience' = hosting guests in catering & careers in a range of styles.

✉️Email [email protected] to find out more.

14/08/2026

Last day of a great summer scheme with TESSA project.

Drumming, Pizza and McD and lots of celebrating a great time with a great bunch of children and young people.

Thanks to a great team of staff and volunteers, to PlayBoard NI and Include Youth, to blackmountain shared space for a warm welcome each day at your wonderful venue. And finally...
.a Big thanks to the parents for bringing the children you are the real heroes!

13/08/2026

Day 3&4 of the TESSA summer scheme were a blast!

Wednesday
Seniors started the morning with check in and some games - post it note game and bingo are proving popular. We then explored qualities each teen has and started on a self portrait art piece. We squeezed in a game of ladder golf too. Our Include Youth session was focused on resilience and empathy.

The Juniors similarly start and end each day with check ins our morning focus and exploratory play outdoors with PlayBoard NI. We then had a rhythm and music session to close our the day.

Thursday
Seniors started the day with our check in and post it note game, then some more work on self portraits. We had a trip outdoors to explore the amazing nature around us and look at the ways in which we are all connected. Include youth focus today was on social identity. A great few days of laughter, learning about ourselves and connecting with others.

Juniors theme for the day was 'Take Notice' and after a fun morning with PlayboardNI outdoors with splat paint, Obleck (Hyena Snot!) and homemade playdoh we gave the children choices on indoor play with Lego, sand, blocks, art and indoor games or Nature zone outdoors with one of the team. These children have been fab all week and are participating amazingly!

Tomorrow will be our last day where we celebrate a great week of this TESSA's first summer scheme.

11/08/2026

What a start to our TESSA Summer scheme! Our first two days in both the juniors and seniors have been packed with both fun and thoughtful activities! What a great team working together including our young leaders who got into the dress up today with PlayBoard NI. It's also been great having Include Youth onboard with our teens as we build positive mental health Can't wait for day 3!

29/06/2026

The summer is in sight! So is Summer Collective- a unique summer scheme for adoptive families from 10-14th August.

We are down to just a few spaces in our primary age programme and a little space still in the teen programme.

Our programme is focused on smaller group settings where children and young people can get to know each other, enjoy creative and engaging activities together all in a therapeutically minded space. 🌞⛹️‍♀️🪘🎨🫟

Registration link - https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/11Dv9cHDwL

Even if you have been thinking about this please do reach out and ask any questions.

13/06/2026

🌊What a great day out on the river Lagan with Belfast Activity Centre in the tandem canoes! A group of 24 children and parents enjoyed a morning on the water followed by a pizza lunch to celebrate the end of a 10 week sports wellbeing programme for 7-11s. The TESSA project would like to thank all who participated and for the support from the Kingsbridge Foundation.

Great to see many really challenge themselves and see people young and old overcome fears and have the best time.

08/06/2026

Summer Collective Sign ups LIVE! Summer scheme for children and young people from adoptive households!

01/06/2026

It's hard to believe it's June already but that means another newsletter from the TESSA project 😀 - yet again a short one but worth paying attention to some invitations and opportunities coming up this month and next.

🚀Launch Event of 'Growing Together' Project 18th June 2026
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/AqXj8mfFKa

☀️Summer Collective - Summer Scheme 10-14th August
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/11Dv9cHDwL
Down to the last few spaces - don't miss out! Closing soon!
Also if you have a teen 16+ who'd like to get some volunteer experience please reach out to us.

28/05/2026

Still trying to decide what your summer looks like? Well this is an easy choice- Sign up your child or young person to Summer Collective with TESSA. We still have a few spaces but will close sign up soon so don't delay. https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/11Dv9cHDwL

Also do you have a teen/young adult 16+ that is looking to volunteer, get some experience for their CV or placement for school? drop us an email [email protected] and we can have a chat.