Good news for Good Relations Charity
Forthspring Inter Community Group (Forthspring) is delighted to announce a £500,000 investment in the Springfield/Woodvale communities over the next three years by The National Lottery Community Fund.
Over the coming three years, MUMO will deliver a Family Engagement Programme. This is a unique, participant led good relations partnership delivered between Forthspring; two local primary schools – St Clare’s Primary School and Springfield Primary School – and Relate ni.
MUMO offers an all-round family support service, providing support to children in nursery and primary school, as well as their parents and extended families. MUMO’s in-school provision includes access to counselling; nurture groups and lego therapy for children. Adult provision includes one to one family support; adult counselling; family therapy; signposting and a full programme of activity – exercise activities; education/training classes; creative workshops; family workshops (e.g. cooking) as well as volunteering opportunities for adults. Whole family activity includes a monthly Families Matter session when families come to Forthspring, do an activity and eat together. All adult and family activities are cross community. The schools programme includes workshops between the two schools and an annual cross community Summer Scheme.
Participant quote (from 2021 evaluation): “MUMO has been there with different activities and ideas to help us to look forward to something., to take part in different things… they encourage you to try things… they have been there for support and for a small bunch of people they have been a beacon of light for some people on both sides of the community in the madness of a pandemic. We as a family are really happy and glad, that there is a MUMO and we are a part of it.”
Heather Floyd, project manager of MUMO welcomed the funding announcement stating: “with support from The National Lottery Community Fund, we will reach many new families with a comprehensive range of support services. We are so excited to be continuing quality delivery with strong outcomes and to be developing an advocacy strand to the work, promoting MUMO services with other schools and community groups.”
Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland Director of The National Lottery Community Fund said: “We are delighted to fund this project which is going to help families from these two schools to develop skills, make positive changes, and improve community cohesion and wellbeing.
“National Lottery players raise around £30 million every week across the UK for good causes like this, and they can be proud to know that it is making such a difference to people in Northern Ireland.”
Eddie Wallace, Project Director, Forthspring Inter Community Group said: “We are very grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund for this significant investment in the local community. MUMO Family Engagement Programme will be an invaluable resource for local children and their families as we emerge from the challenges and restrictions of the pandemic.”
MUMO participants enjoy a foraging walk
Summer Scheme 2021
