Choice step in to help Kids Together in Belfast

Kids Together is a day centre and support service for children and young people with additional needs. It is a thriving hub of activity which provides much needed support services for the children as well as their parents and carers.

Kids Together has grown rapidly, especially since 2016 when they moved into their premises on the Stewartstown Road.  Demand increased so much that the premises were no no longer big enough to accommodate the 13 staff and the many service users.

As a registered not-for-profit organisation, Choice Housing Group understands that a housing association is more than a landlord and is committed to supporting vital community services like Kids Together.

So Choice Services, part of the Choice Group, stepped in to help. Partners JP Corry and Rexel also lent a hand, providing materials and labour. The team – which included Warren Patterson, electrical supervisor; Kieran Burns, electrician; Alan Haggan, joiner; Sam Magee, Justin Rea and John Moore, painters; and Nigel Walker and Graham Barber, handymen – completed the refurbishment in four ways. They extended the office space, creating more privacy for support workers to discuss cases. They also built work benches with computer access points for the staff to sue, and the children now have a separate day room as well.

Kids Together Coordinator Mairead McCrea said:

“We would like to extend a big thank you to Choice for the work they have just completed.

“We would like to especially thank Michael McDonnell, the chief executive at Choice, for all his assistance. He has gone out of his way to help our community organisation support children, young people with disabilities and their families.

“The final product is amazing: the new office is bright and spacious and all our workers have their own area. I imagine their productivity will increase due to the comfort and accessibility of their new space!” 

Mr McDonnell commented:

“The importance of the work done by everyone at Kids Together cannot be over stated.  Families and children in this area rely on them throughout the year.  It was right for Choice, Choice Services and our partners at JP Corry and Rexel, to come together and provide the help we did.”  Michael McDonnell CEO Choice Housing.