Local Children’s charity responds toresidents’ concerns over kids’ home

Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) says the claims made in the local press recently by an MLA and councillors on behalf of residents are “unfair and cause distress and confusion to children”.

Expressing her concerns, Vivian McConvey, Chief Executive of VOYPIC, said: “We must remember that children living in care are amongst the most vulnerable in our communities. Social services support families who find themselves in need for a variety of reasons including crisis and illness.

“Families benefit from a range of support which may include residential care for children on a short or long term basis. Where possible, we believe that local communities should be part of that care and support.”

Local residents, supported by MLA Paul Frew and a number of Ballymena councillors, recently raised objections to the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s planning application for the redevelopment of the children’s home near Ballee.

A press release issued on Friday by VOYPIC, however, pointed out: “Their concerns about anti-social behaviour seem to date back several years to incidents which cannot have involved the children who live in the home now”.

Vivian McConvey added: “VOYPIC recognises the distress caused to communities by anti-social behaviour, however this is a clear example of how children and young people can be unfairly stereotyped. We know that children in care can find it particularly difficult to voice their views or opinions; and it’s our job to support them through this difficult experience.”

It was also pointed out that in 2008, VOYPIC commissioned a survey in Ballymena on public perceptions and attitudes about children in care. According to the charity, of 100 people questioned, the majority (58%) knew that there was a local children’s home and just four per cent (4%) responded that they would object to a children’s home being built in their area.

The charity also pointed out that 30 people from the Ballymena Borough had volunteered their time to VOYPIC’s mentoring service over the last five years to actively support and mentor children from the area,

“VOYPIC believes that vulnerable children receive the best care and support within their own community or as close to it as possible. We support the plans of the Northern Trust to develop and improve services for children and young people in its care, now and in the future,” the charity’s release stated.

“Children always benefit from being embraced by their local community and it is the responsibility of the members of that community to promote and support their welfare. VOYPIC is committed to providing services in the Northern Trust and will promote local community relations”.

Emphasising VOYPIC’s commitment to children in the community, Vivian McConvey added: “Our hope is that the Northern Trust and local residents will develop positive relations to enhance the current and future care of children and we hope that VOYPIC will be part of this”.