Minister for Communities visits Ballymena as funding secured for vital school counselling support

Principals Sandra Sheeran (Ballykeel Primary), Karen McMaster (Camphill Primary), and Neil McCullough (Harryville Primary), governors, counsellor and parent representatives, with Minister Gordon Lyons, DUP North Antrim MLA Paul Frew, and Indeoendent Ballymena Councillor Lawrie Philpott.

The Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons, visited North Antrim on Wednesday following intervention from DUP MLA Paul Frew that helped secure continued funding for a counselling and therapeutic support programme serving three Ballymena primary schools.

Mr Frew welcomed the Minister to Ballykeel Primary School, where the pair met principals, parents, and the specialist delivering the “Parent and Child Together Counselling and Therapeutic Support” scheme.

The service benefits pupils and families from Ballykeel, Harryville and Camphill Primary Schools and had faced the prospect of closure after previous funding ended.

According to Mr Frew, the Department for Communities had been preparing to withdraw support after the programme’s backing through the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund came to an end.

Ballykeel Primary School

“First stop was Ballykeel Primary School to see first-hand the impact the Counselling and therapeutic support is having on Children and Parents from the three schools involved Ballykeel, Harryville & Camphill Primary Schools,” he said.

“This is support that the Department was going to cut having been previously funded through the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund and that current project had recently come to an end.

“The three schools asked me to intercede on their behalf, and I made the Minister aware of this decision, credit to the Minister, after some deliberation, he instructed officials to allocate additional funding to enable the Parent and Child Together Counselling and Therapeutic Support to continue.”

During the visit, Minister Lyons heard directly from families and staff about the difference the service has made for young people struggling with anxiety, emotional challenges, and the lingering impacts of lockdown.

“Today the Minister met the Principals and the person delivering the valuable work as well as some Parents availing of the support and he heard for himself how much of a difference it was making to children’s lives and their parents also,” Mr Frew said.

He emphasised the increasing pressures on children’s mental health in the aftermath of the pandemic.

“This support is critically important since so many young people have been so badly impacted by lockdowns, through anxiety and absenteeism. This work inspires parents and children alike, lifting their spirits, instilling confidence that they can get through even the toughest of trials and times.”

Mr Frew added that such services should not face uncertainty:

“This type of support shouldn’t be under threat it should be rolled out further.

“I really appreciate the Minister taking the time to come up to North Antrim and I thank him for delivering for the parents, pupils, and staff of Ballykeel, Harryville and Camphill.”

The renewed funding ensures continuity of support for dozens of families across the three schools and has been widely welcomed within the local community.