'Because Caring Matters' - a podcast from BCM: Recent Episodes
Belfast Central Mission (BCM)
BCM (Belfast Central Mission) is launching a podcast to highlight the many issues that its projects and staff teams work to support every day.‘Because Caring Matters’ is a monthly broadcast of 30-minute-long episodes tackling and discussing a different subject matter, including dementia, mental health in young people, hoarding, and much, much more.
In this bumper special episode of Because Caring Matters we look at the many facets and faces of homelessness.
We were honoured to welcome two heads of organisations that are working tirelessly to stamp out homelessness in Northern Ireland, namely the NI Housing Executive, the statutory body for housing, and Homeless Connect, formerly the Council for the Homeless, which was set up 40 years ago to bring together service providers working across the sector.
Chris chats with Grainia Long, CAO of the NIHE and Nicola McCrudden, CEO of Homeless Connect about the steps taken and plans made by both their organisations to continue supporting those with lived experience of homelessness but also how to prevent and ultimate eradicate it from society.
Also as part of this special edition, we meet two people who have experienced, first-hand, the support and guidance offered by BCM's teams. Luke is a former service user of our floating Housing Support for Young People project who can now call himself a homeowner thanks to the help from Teresa.
Kathy has also been the beneficiary of the support from Leona, project manager of our Housing Support for Older People project across the Southern Trust area. Kathy and her two children were in completely unsuitable accommodation until they were put in touch with Leona who has helped them secure temporary accommodation and who continues to liaise with the Housing Executive to find them something more suitable and permanent.
Chris also gets a chance to chat directly with Leona and her role as Interim Services Manager for Community Services about the work many of our projects are doing in communities all across Northern Ireland.
For as long as BCM has been running since the late 1800s, there has been a 'Christmas Programme'. Over the last 135 years, it has changed, evolved and moved with the times and today, we distribute toy parcels to 4,000 children every Christmas.
For this episode we talk with Janet Sewell, the Coordinator of the Christmas Programme for the last 26 years, her partner in crime for the season, Stella Laughlin from the Department for Communities which has been working with BCM for decades. We also hear from Ryan Rosbotham who is a Family Support Worker from Clanmor SureStart in west Belfast,
To learn more about this year's Christmas Toy Appeal and to potentially donate, visit www.belfastcentralmission.org
This episode of 'Because Caring Matters' looks at some of the options that are available across east Belfast for further education, employability and skills development, similar to those spearheaded by many of BCM's projects across NI.
I got to hear from my colleague Nathan from BCM's Supported Housing Project in east Belfast as to how they support their young residents in accessing opportunities, while also chatting with Wade from Youth Initiatives and Jude from East Belfast Mission (EBM) re some of the options they have available, be it upskilling, volunteering or seeking out job opportunities.
This was a real eye opener and very encouraging to hear how so many organisations work in partnership for the benefit of so many hoping to get into the workforce and work through some of the hurdles they can be faced with.
For those who might not be aware of BCM and the work we do, this podcast is designed to be be an easy way to learn about the work we are doing to tackle the various issues covered and learn about some of the partner organisations and external groups our projects might work with as many episodes contain external or third party voices/contributions.
Please share this episode and let your personal and professional networks have the chance to hear first-hand of the work being done.
Hope you enjoy. My thanks to Nathan, Wade and Jude for their contribution.
This episode looks at how the rising cost of living crisis is affecting some of those we work with - in particular across the southern region of Northern Ireland as we sit down with Joanne McCourt, Project Manager for the Housing Support for Young People working throughout Armagh, Dungannon, Coalisland and Magherafelt.
We also chat with Teresa Miles, one of the HSYP South support workers and Stevie, who Teresa has been supporting for the last number of years. We also get some time to talk with Darren Curtis, Locality Development Officer for the Southern Area as part of CYPSP (Children and Young People Strategic Partnership).
If you are experiencing issues with housing or meeting ends meet, please reach out to us via www.belfastcentralmission.org or our social media platforms so we can gauge whether we can help you directly or signpost you in the direction of more appropriate providers in the relevant geographical area.
Alternatively, visit www.familysupportni.gov.uk for a full list of support networks and organisations in your area.
July is the official month to raise awareness of scams and the effect they can have on millions of people worldwide every day.
Northern Ireland is no different and recently, the Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland, Eddie Lynch, visited BCM's Wednesday Lunch Club to chat about the prevalence of scams and how the older people in attendance could and should be more aware.
We asked Eddie to come and chat to 'Because Caring Matters' about scams and what our listeners should be vigilant for.
For more information, signposting and helpful hints on being scam aware, you can visit https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/scamwiseni
Our thanks to Eddie for coming into the studio: https://www.copni.org/
BCM is proud to say that we can provide help and support on a 'whole of life' basis.
For those avid listeners of 'Because Caring Matters', you'll already know that we have covered topics such as dementia and hoarding that typically affect those in the later stages of life. But what about the early stages of life?
In this episode we will be talking about early years childhood development and the work being carried out by Sharon and her team at Puddleducks Day Nursery, a social enterprise of BCM and officially The Best Day Nursery in the UK! (2018)
Sharon and I were joined in the studio by Deirdre McLaughlin of Connected for Life and Hari, a mother who has had two children through Puddleducks.
Take a glimpse inside Puddleducks with this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAydJEklwyk
Learn more about the work of Connected for Life here: https://www.connectedforlife.co.uk/
In our very first introductory (mini) episode we met Lynne and Lisa who provided some context and background as to why BCM was starting a podcast and what listeners could expect to hear by way of the life changing stories that our projects can share.
For this bonus content we chat with BCM's Superintendent, Rev. David Campton, and Chief Executive, Nicky Conway to learn more about where BCM has come from and the plans of where the organisation is going for the future.
Now that there are four episodes of the podcast providing an insight into the work our projects currently do across Northern Ireland, this background detail will fill some gaps for listeners as to what BCM represents.
As a charitable organisation and social care provider, a lot of the work that BCM's projects do across Northern Ireland would simply not be possible without the commitment of our volunteer network.
For this episode of 'Because Caring Matters', Chris is joined in his upcycled cupboard by Janet, BCM's Volunteer Coordinator, volunteer befriender and international rugby star John Cooney of Ulster Rugby, and his befriendee Raymond. Hear first hand how both benefit from this relationship and how this has become more than a volunteer obligation.
Chris also gets to chat with Jane Gribben, the Community Engagement Manager for Volunteer Now, an organisation that seeks to connect groups, charities, and events with volunteers while providing those opportunities for individuals seeking to make a difference.
For more information on how to become a BCM volunteer, you can contact Janet directly on jsewell@belfastcentralmission.org. To access the Volunteer Now online resource and directory for opportunities throughout N.I, visit www.volunteernow.co.uk.
As the first week of May, and Mental Health Awareness Month, comes to an end, we chat with BCM's Therapeutic Counsellor, Alison Hogg, about her work with young people across the North Down and Ards area.
We also hear from Ian Officer, a Housing Support Worker who works with a case load of young people across the same geographical area and can refer them on to Alison should they require any degree of help with regards their mental health.
Because Caring Matters is grateful to Martha, a young woman that has utilised and benefitted from Alison's support over the years, for coming in to chat with us about her personal experience and sharing her understanding of the importance of looking after your mental health.
If you, or someone you know, is struggling and seeking information on how to find the necessary support, you can contact counselling@belfastcentralmission.org
As a provider of both housing support in the community and residential care for older people across Northern Ireland, dementia is something that BCM's project teams work to support every day.
Ahead of Dementia Awareness Week (May 16-22), 'Because Caring Matters' welcomed Andrea Selby - BCM's Service Manager for Older People, and Shelagh McCaughan, a volunteer and Dementia Friendly Communities trainer, into the studio to talk about their personal and professional experiences with the condition.
Shelagh talks openly and honestly about the journey she had been on with her Mum as they both realised it was in her Mum's best interests to consider residential care, which is how Shelagh came to be involved with BCM, through our east Belfast care home, Kirk House, which Andrea managed at the time....cue Andrea stage left!
Join us for this episode as we help to break down the stigma of dementia and provide some understanding for those that may not know much about the condition. Our thanks to Lynda Williams, Dementia Support Worker with the Alzheimer's Society NI, for also coming in to talk about the work of the Society and highlighting the amazing support they provide for those living with dementia and their loved ones
Hoarding is a condition that exists out of the public eye with people living in conditions that can be detrimental to their quality of health, both physically and mentally.
BCM operates two floating support projects for older people, one operating across the Greater Belfast area and one across the Southern Trust area and Newry. For this episode of Because Caring Matters we welcomed Catherine, project manager for the Belfast team, and Margaret, one of her support workers, into the studio to highlight the key issues around hoarding.
They are joined by Belfast-based social worker David McCann who works in partnership with the Belfast Housing Support team when referring older people living in the community who require that additional support.
By way of an introduction to 'Because Caring Matters', we invited along BCM's Director of Business & Corporate Services, Lisa Maclean, and Director of Care and Quality Governance, Lynne Kavanagh, to highlight the reasoning behind starting a podcast and to give a taster of what listeners can expect to hear.