• Improve their self esteem
• Improve their personal development
• Reduce their intake of alcohol and other substances

Within the programme, we will be facilitating some exciting new activities.

EXPRESS YOURSELF: a 10 week programme for young people aged 13-17, participants will use photography as a vehicle to express their achievements and experiences.  They will take part in challenging adventures and learn a lot about themselves.  Those taking part will have an opportunity to gain accredited qualifications in First Aid and Drugs and Alcohol awareness

OUTREACH: in association with Army Cadets Force, 12 young people aged 12-14 years will take part in a week long residential where they will experience challenging team based activities and gain accredited qualifications in Personal Development and First Aid

SUMMER FUN: in association with Dog’s Trust, 6 children aged 8-11 years will visit the re-homing centre twice a week for 4 weeks during the summer holidays.  They will be allocated a dog from the Centre and take part in fun training activities, thus boosting their self esteem and personal development

For more information, call the Hope Centre on 028 2563 2726 or email: info@hopeballymena.com

Tickets can be obtained at Hope Centre reception for only £3 or you can pay at the door.

Doors open at 7.00pm, so come early to get a good seat!

A number of our staff members are now specialist trained in delivering the therapy and in training others to do so

Here’s a brief list of the benefits of Auricular Therapy -
Auricular Acupuncture for Addiction
is:

• Effective across addictive
  substances
• Effective throughout the
  treatment/recovery process
• Effective along the continuum of
  care
• Accessible to men and women and adolescents
  Accessible cross-culturally
• Treats the whole person, body, mind, emotions, spirit, just as addiction impairs
  the whole person
• It is non-verbal and non-performance
• It elicits immediate and long-term effects
• It has few contraindications and adverse reactions.  It is non-addictive
• It is simple, flexible and inexpensive
• It improves treatment relationships
• It is paradoxically even more effective with the clients who are hardest to
  treat.  Effective intervention for persons who are pregnant, dually diagnosed, chronic, criminal justice mandated, violent, etc
• It is consistent and relatively safe

If you’d like to read more, click here or contact us to speak to one of our treatment specialists

We are most grateful to Sainsbury’s Ballymena for making us their nominated charity for this year’s fund raising effort

Contact us on 028 2563 2726 for more information or email: info@hopeballymena.com

Volunteer Recruitment Ad

Guest speakers, Mr Iain McGowan and Dr Billy Gregg with Hope Centre Manager, Anne Henry, Deputy Mayor Ald Robin Cherry and Bertnel Thompson, Chairman of Hope Centre Directors

Our annual Family Conference was held on 22nd February at Tullyglass House Hotel, Ballymena, with the theme of ‘Over the counter medication & prescription drugs’.

There was a great atmosphere on the evening and it was an opportunity to meet up with regular acquaintences and new contacts alike.

The knowledge and information shared by our speakers, Dr Billy Gregg and Mr Iain McGowan, was most enlightening and we all went away with much more knowledge on the subject.

If you want to know more about substance abuse or need support contact Hope Centre at: 028 2563 2726 or email: info@hopeballymena.com

Our ‘Breaking the Cycle’ drug & alcohol awareness programme, with its engaging characters, is very popular with children.  Originally developed by Band of Hope, Yorkshire, this accredited programme and is now widely used by schools at Key Stage 2 level.  The programme enables the young people to be interactive using whiteboards and e-beam system and also a pro click system is available, allowing for effective evaluation and confidential participation relieving anxiety for the child if they get an answer wrong.

Several schools have already availed of the programme. Ideally the programme should be delivered over 6 one hour session workshops, but a one off session can be done on any drug ie smoking/alcohol. The programme can be adapted to suit the needs of individual schools and their pupils.

If you would like more information regarding ‘Breaking the cycle’ programme please do not hesitate to get in contact with me on 25 632 726 or e-mail: mairead@hopeballymena.com

Rory Storybook
This new resource pack is aimed to help children understand parental alcohol misuse and has been a great success so far with the children.

Rory tells of a story of a little dog whose owner has an alcohol problem. Rory thinks that it is his fault when his owner sometimes gets angry and doesn’t look after him. Many children live in a similar situation with parents who have alcohol or drug problems or mental health issues – and they often don’t understand what is happening or what they can do. Children often think they’re to blame for their parents’ problems and are frightened to talk about them.

Rory is a delightful, highly readable and important book – one which will bring hope and understanding to thousands of children whose parents have a problem with alcohol. This new ‘Rory’ learning resource can be aimed for any child between the ages of nursery-P.7 and is available on a one off session.

If you would like more information regarding the ‘Rory’ storybook please do not hesitate to get in contact with me on 25 632 726 or e-mail: mairead@hopeballymena.com

This programme includes sessions around the following: Confidence Building, Healthy Living, Raising Self Esteem, Personal Development, Alcohol/drug Awareness, Art, Staying Safe, Exercise, Anger Management, Suicide Awareness and a whole lot more, all delivered in a relaxed atmosphere. Please contact Leigh for more information.

Drug/Alcohol workshops can also be delivered within the community free of charge, schools, youth clubs, church groups etc – please contact Leigh for more information via email to: leigh@hopeballymena.com or phone 028 256 32726

Confidence Building :: Healthy Living ::  Raising self Esteem :: Personal Development :: Drug and Alcohol Education :: Art :: Staying Safe :: Exercise :: Anger Management :: Dealing with Emotions :: Suicide awareness :: Fun

This programme is funded by Comic Relief

• Hope and guidance to the whole family circle
• Directing families towards the help they need
• Advice when a loved one is found to be misusing alcohol or
  drugs
• Practical advice
• Emotional support
• Prevention techniques for children of users who may make
  unhealthy life choices themselves
• Extra support for Grandparent carers
• Time and space to talk about fears and worries
• One to one support
• Peer support from other family members
• Family members have free access to all
  Hope Centre facilities including:
• Holistic therapies
• Internet access
• Fully supervised gym
• Nutrition advice

Family group support sessions take place at Hope Centre on Fridays from 11.00am but one to one support is also available in the Centre or other venues around the Northern Health Board area.

For more details or to make an appointment for a chat with our family support worker call 028 2563 2726 or email: info@hopeballymena.com

“Recharge” covers issues such as Healthy Living, diet & nutrition, Personal Exercise/Workout plans, Developing Independence & Healthy Eating for Life