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Childminding Support Groups and Drop Ins
CHILDMINDING SUPPORT GROUPS
There is a network of Childminding Support Groups affiliated to NICMA across Northern Ireland. The groups exist to provide a support network to self-employed childminders who work in isolation and offer a range of activities including:-
- Social Activities
- Training - e.g. First Aid, Special Needs
- Toy Library
- Guest Speakers
- Support, advice and sharing of information
Information evenings and get togethers are also organised in those areas not serviced by support groups. For further support and guidance please contact the local Childminding Development Officer.
If you are interested in attending, contact the local Childminding Development Officer.
CHILDMINDING DROP-INS
A Drop-in is a regular session for
childminders and their ‘minded’ children where
the childminders access group interaction and support from
each other and the children have opportunity for group play,
social interaction and group learning.
Drop-ins run at regular intervals but
we would recommend that they operate no more than once weekly,
as NICMA’s purpose is to provide ‘quality childcare
and education in a registered homebased setting’.
A ‘Drop-in’ aims to:
- Provide a safe and stimulating environment where children
have the opportunity to play, develop, learn and interact
in a ‘group’ setting.
- Provide a fully inclusive setting to all the children.
- Encourage registered childminders to access support, advice
and training and reduce their sense of isolation.
- Raise the profile of ‘registered’ childminding
to prospective childminders, parents and other agencies.
SOUTH
EASTERN HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE TRUST
| Group |
Venue |
Evening |
Time |
NICMA Staff
Contact |
| Aghalee
& Ballinderry |
Contact
Fiona Clendinning |
1st
Monday |
8.00pm |
Fiona
Clendinning
ECP
Childminding Development Officer
(
07837734825
fiona.nicma@hotmail.com
|
| Ards
Peninsula |
Committee
Room, Kircubbin Community Centre, Kircubbin |
4th
Thursday |
7.30pm |
| Ballynahinch
Downpatrick & District |
Grove
House, Dromore
Street |
1st
Wednesday
|
8.00pm |
| Bangor |
Epworth
Hall, Methodist
Church
Hamilton Road |
3rd
Tuesday |
7.30pm |
| Colin
|
Christ
the Redeemer Parish Hall, Lagmore |
3rd
Wednesday |
7.30pm |
| |
|
|
|
| Lisburn |
Trinity Methodist Church
Knockmore Road, Lisburn |
2nd
Tuesday |
7.30pm |
| Newtownards
& District |
NICMA
Office, Newtownards |
2nd
Wednesday
|
7.30pm |
|
BELFAST
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE TRUST |
| Shankill
SureStart
Childminding
Network Support Group |
Hannah
Centre,915 Crumlin
Road, Belfast |
Alternate
Friday mornings |
10.30am
–
12.30pm |
Contact
NICMA
Office
(
0871 200 2063
|
|
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NORTHERN
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE TRUST
|
|
| Group |
Venue |
Evening |
Time |
NICMA Staff Contact |
| Antrim
Town |
Antrim
Forum
|
3rd
Tuesday |
7.30pm
– 9.00pm |
Fey
Clark
NICMA
Childminding Development Officer
(
07807727913
fey.clark@hotmail.com |
| Antrim
/ Crumlin |
Women In Touch Centre,
Main Street Crumlin
|
1st
Thursday |
7.30pm |
| Magherafelt |
The Sun Lounge, Mid
Ulster Hospital, Magherafelt
|
1st
Monday |
7.30pm |
| Oakfield
‘Drop-in’
Centre.
|
Oakfield Community
Centre Carrickfergus
|
Monday
– Friday mornings |
10.00am
–
12
noon |
| Woodburn
‘Drop-in’ Centre |
Woodburn Community
Centre
Carrickfergus
|
Tuesday
& Thursday mornings |
10.00am
–
12
noon |
| Ballymena |
George Sloan Centre
Ballymena
|
2nd
Monday |
7.30pm
-
9.30pm |
Clare
McKay
NICMA
Childminding Development Officer
(
07746974643
clare.mckay@utvinternet.com |
| Causeway
|
Mount
Fern Complex, Coleraine |
3rd Monday |
7.30pm
|
| Glens |
Old School House,
Cushendall
|
3rd
Tuesday |
7.30pm
|
| Abbey
SureStart
‘Drop-in’
Centre |
St James Primary School,
Newtownabbey |
Tuesday
mornings |
10.00am
–
12
noon |
Maria
Kelly
Childminding
Network
Co-ordinator
(
07771658886
maria@surestartnewtownabbey.co.uk
|
| Coleraine
SureStart
‘Drop-in’
Centre |
Ballysally Youth &
Community Centre, Coleraine |
Alternate
Wednesday mornings |
9.30am
–
11.30am |
Michelle
McNicholl
Childminding
Network Co-ordinator
(
07783221926
michelle_surestart@hotmail.co.uk
|
| G-OLD
SureStart
Childminding
Network Support Group |
G-OLD SureStart, 2b
Coagh Crescent, Cookstown |
Last
Tuesday
of
month |
7.30pm
|
Tina
McKeown
Childminding
Network Co-ordinator
(
028 8676 9994
tinatubman@hotmail.com
|
| G-OLD
SureStart NICMA ‘Drop-in’ Centre |
G-OLD SureStart, 2b
Coagh Crescent, Cookstown |
Tuesday
Mornings |
10.00am
– 11.30am |
|
|
Horizon
SureStart
‘Drop-in’
Centre |
Horizon SureStart,
Sands Court Entrance, Sunnylands Primary School, Carrickfergus |
Alternate
Wednesday mornings |
10.00am
–
12
noon |
Joanne
Martin
Childminding
Network Co-ordinator
(
07834180557
joanne_martin16@hotmail.com
|
| Larne
SureStart ‘Drop-in’ Centre |
St Anthonys Primary
School, 43 Fairway, Larne |
Alternate
Mondays |
10.00am
–
12
noon |
SOUTHERN
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE TRUST
| Group |
Venue |
Evening |
Time |
NICMA Staff Contact |
| Armagh |
Dining Room, Mullinure
Hospital |
1st
Monday |
8.00pm
|
Michelle
Grant
NICMA
Childminding Development Officer
(
07738176199
michellekelly75@hotmail.com |
| Banbridge |
Social Education Centre,
Commercial Road, Banbridge |
3rd
Monday |
8.00pm |
| Dungannon |
Conference Room 1,
South
Tyrone Hospital |
4th
Thursday |
8.00pm |
| Kilkeel |
Kilmorey Arms Hotel
Kilkeel |
Bi-monthly
3rd
Tuesday |
7.30pm
|
| Newry/South
Armagh |
Pond Field Community
Centre, Bessbrok |
2nd
Tuesday
(Rotate
Venue) |
7.30pm |
| Newry
‘Drop-in’ Centre |
Pond Field Community
Centre, Bessbrok |
Tuesday
mornings |
10.00am
–
12
noon |
| Clogher
Valley SureStart Childminding Network Support Group |
SureStart Office,
Main Street
Augher |
Bi-monthly
1st
Monday |
7.30pm |
Una
Leonard
Childminding
Network Co-ordinator
(
028 8554 9898
una.surestart@btinternet.com |
| Lurgan,
Craigavon + portadown
Childminding
Network Support Group |
Contact Geralyn Maguire
|
Last
Tuesday of month |
7.00pm
–
9.00pm
|
Geralyn
Maguire
Childminding
Network Co-ordinator
(
07912368639
geralynm@splashsurestart.org
Or
Michelle
Grant
NICMA
Childminding Development Officer
(
07738176199
michellekelly75@hotmail.com |
| SPLASH
SureStart
‘Drop-in’
Centre
|
Contact
Geralyn Maguire
SPLAH
Playroom
Legahory
Ctr.
Craigavon
|
SPLASH
|
Friday
mornings
9.30am
– 10.30am |
WESTERN
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE TRUST
| Group |
Venue |
Evening |
Time |
NICMA Staff Contact |
| Enniskillen |
Family
Centre, Coleshill,
Enniskillen |
2nd
Wednesday |
8.00pm |
Maria
Moss
NICMA
Childminding Development Officer
(
07855392147
mossmaria@hotmail.co.uk |
| Omagh |
Gortmore
Day Centre,
Derry
Road, Omagh |
Last
Monday |
8.00pm |
| Drop-in-Centre |
Omagh
Early Years Centre |
Friday
mornings |
10.00am
– 12.00 noon |
| Foyle |
MDEC,
Altnagelvin Hospital |
1st
Monday |
7.30pm
|
Clare
Hagan
NICMA
Childminding Development Officer
( 07842871840 cfhagan@hotmail.com
|
| Limavady
& District Support Group & Drop-in Centre |
Rossmar
School,.
Ballyquin Road,
Limavady |
Monday
mornings |
9.30am
– 11.30am |
| LIttlehands
& Shantallow
Childminding
Support Group |
The
Resource Centre Londonderry
Racecourse
Road Carnhill Londonderry |
Last
Monday in month |
7.30pm
– 9.30pm |
Joanna
Legg
Childminding
Network Co-ordinator
( 07759816933
joanna_legg_1968@hotmail.com |
| Little
Hands - SureStart ‘Drop-in’ Centre |
Rosemount
Primary School,
Helen
Street, Londonderry |
Thursday
mornings
(Term
time only) |
9.30am
– 11.15am |
Joanna
Legg
Childminding
Network Co-ordinator
( 07759816933
joanna_legg_1968@hotmail.com |
| Shantallow
SureStart ‘Drop-in’ Centre |
Shantallow
SureStart
Galliagh
Park, Londonderry |
Tuesday
mornings
(Term
time only) |
10.00am
–
12
noon |
| Strabane
SureStart
‘Drop-in’
Centre |
The
Courtyard, Strabane Library, Strabane |
Friday
mornings
(Term
time only) |
10.00am
–
12
noon |
Clare
Hagan
Childminding
Network Co-ordinator
( 07842871840
cfhagan@hotmail.com |
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