Family Routes

A great project being run by some of our fantastic sessions staff.

Super opportunity for young people to connect in a supportive environment.

What's in a T:BUC camp for your young person?

Are you thinking about sending your young person to our exciting T:BUC programme????

Here's what they'll get out of it.

It's a lot of fun, with games, food and plenty of laughs.

They'll meet other young people from different schools and backgrounds, and lots of people go home with brand new friends.

They'll find out they've more in common than they thought, and together they'll do something that makes a real difference in our Markethill community.

The good news, if you needed any more that is.. its totally free
its open to those aged 11–15

They can come along on thier own or bring a friend.

Places are limited, so get in touch today

As the Autumn begins why not join us and our Nature based Play therapist April for a family day at Quarries Community Farm.
🧘‍♀️ Yoga session under the canopy 🧘
🌳Exploration and messy play in woodland 🌱🍁
🔥Campfire🔥



Sign up here https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/mtu7DsKv2y

🔺Today on the 9th of September join us in wearing red and sharing resources for International FASD awareness day!

👠 Red shoes
🧦 Red socks
👕 Red clothes
❤️ Anything red!

While those affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder are found in a number of adoptive homes and we've experience offering therapeutic services to them we want to highlight those who are specialists in the area.

Oshay’s Brain Domains CIC
Strong community with excellent resources

FASD Ireland
Support Hub
www.fasdireland.ie/hub-northern-ireland

Adoption UK Charity
Upcoming training and events online https://www.adoptionuk.org/pages/events/site/fasd-hub/category/fasd-events-and-training

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

🌊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.