Politics

Stormont protesters call for family support service to be saved

A protest at Parliament Buildings yesterday highlighted the end of a support service working with disadvantaged families. Picture by Mal McCann
A protest at Parliament Buildings yesterday highlighted the end of a support service working with disadvantaged families. Picture by Mal McCann A protest at Parliament Buildings yesterday highlighted the end of a support service working with disadvantaged families. Picture by Mal McCann

A protest at Parliament Buildings yesterday called for money to save a service working with disadvantaged families, amid claims that vulnerable children will be the first casualties of Stormont's collapse.

Belfast’s Intensive Family Support Service (IFSS), operated by social justice charity Extern, said it has been told it must close its doors on March 31 with the loss of 47 jobs because funding has stopped.

Jointly financed until now by the Departments of Health, Justice, Communities, Education and Economy, at an annual cost of £360,000 each, IFSS works with more than 235 families a year.

Extern chief executive Charlie Mack said the "life-altering and often life-saving service" costs each department just 83 per child or family member per day.

“This decision is devastating, not only for the vulnerable and marginalised children and families we work with, but also for our dedicated and professional staff who are to be made redundant," he said.

“Should funding not be found to continue this service, the sad alternative is that Stormont will be casting a very long and very dark shadow over the lives of the most disadvantaged children and families in Belfast for a long time to come."

People for Profit MLA Gerry Carroll called for urgent action to save the service.

"These staff are delivering exceptional and essential work including helping to stabilise families, improve school attendance and helping to keep children safe. Their jobs need to be brought back," he said.

Extern said issues experienced by families supported by the service include poverty, poor school attendance, mental health, suicide, anti-social behaviour, addiction and domestic abuse.

Of those benefiting, it said there has been a two-thirds reduction in young people involved in anti-social behaviour and almost of third of children who were on the child protection register have been removed.

The Department of Health said the service was a pilot scheme which had now come to an end, but families that benefited would "continue to be supported".

"Our focus now will be on taking the learning from the pilot in Belfast and applying it not only to statutory family and children's services but also to other family support services," it said.

Trade union NIPSA held a protest at Stormont yesterday, with IFSS staff members among those in attendance. Extern is also using the hashtag #83pForMe? to enable people to express concern on social media.