Sure Start: A Lifeline for North Belfast Families Gets Lord Mayor's Spotlight

Great news for families across North Belfast and beyond! The vital Sure Start programme, which offers incredible support to young children and their families, has been specially chosen by Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly, as one of her key charities for her year in office.

Sure Start is a fantastic lifeline, providing invaluable advice and opportunities to parents right from pregnancy up until their child celebrates their fourth birthday. Its aim is to help little ones flourish at home, thrive at school, and get the very best start in life.

Councillor Kelly, speaking at Donegall Pass Community Centre – home to South Belfast Sure Start – shared her own personal connection to the service. "As someone who used Sure Start services myself when I became a mum for the first time, I know just how valuable their support can be," she explained. The Lord Mayor even joined in a 'Twilight Créche' there, where children enjoyed festive Christmas activities while their parents got those last-minute Santa preparations sorted!

She added, "Sure Start offers a safe place for parents to meet with professionals, connect with each other, and access local services. It helps them understand what help is available, especially if they're facing particular challenges or aren't sure where to turn on their parenting journey." Councillor Kelly praised the Sure Start team as a "wealth of information," dedicated to helping children communicate, play, and get the best start in life. "Their contribution to our local communities is second to none, and I am delighted to help shine a light on their work through my role this year," she said.

There are nine amazing Sure Start projects right across Belfast, each tailoring support to local families. They offer a huge range of services, from essential breastfeeding advice and nutritional guidance to expert help with speech and language development and access to brilliant play opportunities. Every scheme provides both home-based and community support, working closely with parents, agencies, and community groups to make sure families get exactly what they need.

Joy Poots, Project Co-ordinator for South Belfast Sure Start, expressed her gratitude, saying, "We are really honoured to have been chosen as one of the Lord Mayor’s charities this year. We will be celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2026, and this recognition feels like such a validation of all our work with young children and families in the communities we serve." She emphasised the importance of the trusting relationships built over the years, which are "the basis of the positive outcomes achieved for our children and families."

Each year, the Lord Mayor of Belfast selects a number of charities to support, and this year Councillor Kelly is also backing Little Heroes and NI Alternatives. If you'd like to find out more about Sure Start services in Belfast and how they could support your family, please visit nidirect.gov.uk and search for 'Sure Start'.