Belfast Activity Centre

The activities they offer challenge stimulate and motivate the children who attend to help them identify and realise their full potential.

The grant received from Cash for Kids will enable BAC to provide their Shoulder to Shoulder programme, which runs for 12 weeks. This will support siblings who have a brother or sister undergoing treatment for acute long term, life threatening or life limiting illnesses and young people with carer responsibilities within their family.

The programme will address a range of important issues including:

• Lack of parental attention (due to caring responsibilities and hospital/hospice visiting)

• Difficulty coping with their experiences

• Grief and bereavement

• Difficulty having friends visit their home

• Bullying and prejudice

• Behavioural issues and a lack of concentration at school

Shoulder to Shoulder will boost the children’s confidence and self-esteem and create opportunities to make new friends. This will also get them feel involved in mainstream activities so they feel less withdrawn from society.

"BAC have had the pleasure of working alongside Cash for Kids for three years and have been continually inspired by the teams hard work, vision for making a difference and generosity to allow other charities to bring their visions to life. Cash for Kids provide support that really does allow charities across Northern Ireland to make a big difference" (Andrea Kilpatrick, Development Manager at BAC).