Action for Children Northern Ireland

19/06/2026

“The past four years have been the best of my life.”

These heartfelt words belong to Paige*, a mum-of-one who has been part of the Ballymena & Little Steps Antrim SureStart family before her son was even born.

The service, which is fully funded by the Department of Education NI and run by Action for Children, offers a range of services to children (pre-birth to four years) and their families at three sites across Ballymena and Antrim.

Paige and her little boy Noah* have benefited from many services over the past four years – from baby yoga to weaning classes and child first aid. Parenting advice to help understand development and behaviour, as well as assistance navigating the SEN system have also been invaluable.

Franci Simpson, Service Coordinator at Ballymena and Little Steps Sure Start, said: “It’s our absolute privilege to support families like Paige’s. She’s so complimentary about us but she deserves credit for engaging and for being vulnerable. Being an advocate is a brave thing to do and testament to just how much she’s also grown during her time with Sure Start.”

18/06/2026

This Refugee Week we’re proud to highlight the inspiring journey of a young person who is thriving in our local community ⭐

Since arriving in Northern Ireland and being supported by Action for Children, they have embraced new opportunities and developed a passion for athletics. Their commitment, perseverance and positive attitude has seen them excel in competitions, becoming a valued member of their local running club and a role model for others 🏃

With the help of our team, they have been able to build confidence, develop independence and pursue their goals both on and off the track ❤️

12/06/2026

🫶 A huge thank you to the amazing group of Nationwide UK colleagues who recently volunteered at our Belfast office!

From painting walls to planting flowers, they did it all with a smile. This is just another example of our wonderful partnership, through Nationwide Fairer Futures, which helps us give more children a safe and happy childhood ⭐

11/06/2026

🪇 Happy International Day of Play! 🧸

At Action for Children in Northern Ireland, we take play seriously!

During the first 1,001 days, the brain undergoes rapid and remarkable growth, making this period one of the most critical in a child’s life. The power of play is at the heart of this development. Through play, children explore, experiment and make sense of their surroundings in a natural and meaningful way.

Allison Shaw, Early Years Practitioner at Ballymena & Little Steps Antrim SureStart, said: “Children learn through doing – play is how they explore their world, learn how to assess risk, try new things out and get to know themselves.

“Play is foundational for bonding relationships and fostering tolerance. It’s the things we play with and the people who help us play that make a huge difference in our lives.”

10/06/2026

We were delighted to be part of the 'Stronger From The Start' manifesto launch during Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 🌟

It was a really positive event, attended by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, which saw colleagues from across many sectors come together to learn and brainstorm with a common goal – the belief that every child deserves the best possible start in life ❤️

09/06/2026

We couldn’t celebrate without a little throwback to our amazing ‘Teach the Teachers’ video ⭐

This educational resource, developed by our Young Carers Northern Ireland team, is now available to every school in NI as a tool to help educators recognise and support young carers in their classrooms 🧑‍🏫

Watch it now 👉

A young carer is someone under the age of 18 who provides support t...

08/06/2026

👶 Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 👶

A child’s earliest days, week, months and years are crucial to their development. Our amazing teams across Northern Ireland are proud to sign this year’s pledge – to support opportunities for connection and care to help babies be ❤️

05/06/2026

💙 Turn Your Passion Into Purpose 💙

With summer underway, there’s no better time to make a meaningful difference. This season, you can help change a child’s story. By turning something you enjoy into a fundraiser, you can support children, young people and families across Northern Ireland when they need it most.

Whether you choose to bake, walk, wash or host an event, there’s something for everyone. With longer evenings and brighter days, it’s the perfect opportunity to come together and take action.

However you choose to get involved, make it count.
🚶 Sponsored walk
🍰 Bake sale
🚗 Car wash
🎉 Your own idea

Simple. Meaningful. Impactful.

Every pound raised helps us provide vital support, safety and hope to those who rely on our services.👉 Get your fundraising pack today:
https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/support-us/fundraise-with-us/do-your-own-fundraising/

💬 If you’re planning a fundraiser, we’d love to hear from you: [email protected]

04/06/2026

to the Balmoral Show! 🐮

In our fifth year of exhibiting at the show, we were proud to unveil our new fostering identity and place an even stronger emphasis on play - with a dedicated area featuring a Duplo farm, colouring station, puzzles and our Giant Connect 4! We once again partnered with U105 and enjoyed meaningful conversations with visitors and fellow exhibitors alike.

While much has evolved over the years, one thing has remained constant - our commitment to the support we provide. At Action for Children Fostering Northern Ireland, our team continue to prioritise personalised, relationship-based support tailored to each of our foster carers ❤️

To find out more, visit: actionforchildren.org.uk/fostering ⭐

01/06/2026

“I get to be the voice for the younger me who needed someone to raise awareness and speak up.”

There’s nothing more powerful than hearing directly from people with lived experience 💪

Grab a cuppa and listen back to BBC Radio Ulster here - https://bit.ly/4fjiM2M (skip to 27:35) - to hear from our wonderful Young Ambassador Nikita about her role as a young carer from the age of just nine ❤️

One man suffered a heart attack on holiday but insurance delay left him stranded in Spain.