Barnardo’s NI welcomes the opportunity to provide comment on this phase of the Belfast Agenda Refresh. We particularly welcome the introduction of themes such as anti-poverty and children and young people, which permeate all policy levels and should be considered across all actions. All actions within the plan should consider how they can move the dial on poverty in our city, particularly for our children and young people.
It is important that priorities and actions take into account existing and developing plans and policies at an Executive level, for example, the Anti-Poverty Strategy, to ensure alignment.
It is also important to recognise that children experience their lives as a whole, and therefore partnership working with the local community, parents and other statutory bodies is essential in meeting the needs of children.
Our Family Connections work in East Belfast is a great example of partnership working between statutory services, community and voluntary organisations, the community themselves, parents, and children, where children receive consistent support and messaging whether they are in school, in the community or at home.