For 25 years, East Belfast Sure Start has helped give thousands of children the best possible start in life, supporting families from pregnancy through to age four.
The charity, which works with families and children aged 0-4, is celebrating 25 years of service in east Belfast; fostering strong connections, promoting health and wellbeing, and creating rich opportunities for play and early learning.
Since its beginnings in a single building on the Albertbridge Road, East Belfast Sure Start has grown significantly. What started as a small team of eight has developed into a team of 40 skilled staff, including specialists such as speech and language therapists and a midwife. Its reach has expanded from four to nine wards, with services now delivered across multiple locations.
East Belfast Sure Start supports families from pregnancy through to age four, providing advice, peer and one-to-one support and delivering a range of programmes for both parents and children that promote healthy development, strong relationships and early learning. Services include antenatal and breastfeeding support, parent groups, bespoke dads’ programme and child development sessions, alongside play-based learning opportunities in nurturing, inclusive environments.
Working in partnership with parents and a wide network of statutory and community organisations, the team provides home and centre-based support, helping to identify needs early and connecting families to additional services. This joined-up approach ensures families receive coordinated, consistent support, giving every child the strongest possible foundation for the future.
The impact of this work is clear:
- Over 10,500 home visits delivered since 2015
- 98% of parents reported increased confidence following home visits (2024)
- 93% said services improved their child’s development (2024)
- More than 8000 external services signposted since 2021
- Family registrations have grown from 200 in 2002 to 1388 in 2024
To mark this significant milestone, a celebration event was held on Friday 8th May at East Belfast Network Centre, bringing together parents, partners, staff and funders. The event featured a parent panel sharing personal experiences of support, alongside a partner panel highlighting the value of collaboration and joined-up services. Guests also heard from a number of speakers who reflected on the importance of the early years and the lasting impact of timely support for children and families. The event also included a special musical performance by Emer Maguire, who performed two touching songs, one capturing a day in the life of Sure Start, and the other exploring understanding and awareness of autism.
Tracey Ripley-McElvogue, East Belfast Sure Start Coordinator, said:
“We are incredibly proud to be celebrating 25 years of supporting families in east Belfast. Seeing the difference our work has made, helping parents feel confident and children thrive, has been truly rewarding. I am especially proud of our dedicated staff team, whose commitment and care make this work possible every day”
Carla Van Hart, parent panel participant, said:
“East Belfast Sure Start was a lifeline for me and supported me through so many stages of my journey as a parent. As a mother of neurodivergent children, their support helped me feel less alone, and through a peer support group, I built friendships that have lasted a lifetime. It means so much to see that same support continuing for the next generation; one of my grandchildren is now cared for by someone who once supported my son. The staff are simply amazing, and their care and consistency make such a difference.”
Looking ahead, East Belfast Sure Start remains firmly committed to supporting families across east Belfast. The organisation will continue to adapt, innovate and collaborate to meet the evolving needs of the community, provide safe and nurturing environments for families and champion the potential of every child.
East Belfast Sure Start is funded by the Department of Education.
For more information on the services and support available from East Belfast Sure Start please visit: www.eastbelfastsurestart.co.uk
