The Blackie River Community Centre hosted a significant event at St Mary’s University College on Wednesday, 13 January 2016 to celebrate the work of its Family Support Hub Initiative, which has been rolled out across West Belfast (#supportingfamilies).

Junior Minister Jennifer McCann launched the event, and there were presentations from various different Tier 2 family support services outlining the depth of work carried out across a number of areas.

Among the groups represented were the following:


In addition, representatives from all West Belfast Family Support Hubs—Blackie River Community Group, Whiterock Children’s Centre, Greater Shankill Partnership, Springhill Development Trust, Centre for Restorative Justice—were in attendance to discuss best practice.


Back row L-R: Jim Girvan (Chair of the Greater Falls Family Support Hub) and Karena McErlean (Coordinator Greater Falls Hub), both from the Blackie River Community Group; Leontia McKenna (Coordinator Outer West Belfast Family Support Hub/CRJI); Joanne Menabney (Greater Shankill Hub/Greater Shankill Partnership); Harry Maguire (Director CRJI); Professor Peter Finn (Principal of St Mary’s University College Belfast).

Front Row L –R: Paul Maskey (MP West Belfast), Jim McCarthy (Chair of the Outer West Belfast Family Support Hub/Deputy Director CRJI), Jennifer McCann (MLA and Junior Minister), Ihintz Oliden (Coordinator Upper Springfield and Whiterock Hub/Whiterock Children’s Centre).