Enniskillen Castle could be spotted glowing red on Wednesday, March 15, as Action for Children Early Intervention Fermanagh Family Support Hub celebrated its 10-year anniversary of working in partnership with local organisations.

The signposting service that works to serve families and children in the area has assisted almost 4,000 children and young people since opening in 2013.

This vital service was introduced to improve access to early intervention and family support services by matching the needs of families to family support providers in the local area, with a specific focus on creating a strong network of community, voluntary and statutory providers.

Since 2013, the Fermanagh Family Support Hub has helped 3,907 children/young people and 3,240 parents access support locally, which Seána Connor, Action for Children Fermanagh Hub Co-ordinator, explains has been transformative in the area.

“This type of support is crucial in an area where access to services often requires extensive travel or negotiation of other barriers.

"Many families have had their lives turned around after receiving support within the local community thanks to the wonderful connections we have built over the last ten years within the community, voluntary and statutory sectors.

“Our ambition has been to support children, young people and their families’ health and wellbeing at the earliest stage possible to try and avert the need for statutory and crisis-based services which are expensive and difficult to access.

“We know that prevention and early intervention is now rightfully a foundational principle in the Mental Health Strategy, and we are proud of how this partnership-model has been working to do that for families in Fermanagh for ten years already.”

One parent from Fermanagh reached out to Action for Children Fermanagh Family Support Hub as she awaited a diagnosis for her son.

They provided her with a range of support through connecting her with partner organisations, as well as their own Early Intervention Family Support team.

She said: "It was great to have that level of support and signposting from Action for Children, from home visits to connecting with other families in the same position as us. We really don't know where we would have been without the support."

As she doesn't have family close-by, she valued the close connection and practical support she received from the team.

"They were always only ever a phone call away! I certainly would've been very lonely and less knowledgeable if we hadn't connected with them. I just know they're always there if I need them."

If you’re searching for emotional or practical support in your area, reach out to the Action for Children Fermanagh Family Support Hub today at 028 6632 4181.