Early Intervention in Northern Ireland
TLG Early Intervention has been rapidly expanding in Northern Ireland, with more and more children getting vital 1:1 support each week!
Excitingly, there are now 5 TLG Early Intervention centres running in Northern Ireland, with 49 pupils currently being coached. 16 pupils and 9 families are accessing wider support from their local church, and an incredible 26 out of 29 coaches are regularly in touch with the children's families, offering additional support!
Each of the 5 Northern Irish centres have coaches regularly spending invaluable time with their paired children, walking alongside children who would otherwise struggle on alone.
“I LOVE being able to learn new things and play together!” says K, who has formed a great relationship with her coach. “We did skittles and we did a unicorn piñata! We talked about our emotions and what things make me feel frustrated. Before I met my coach I used to walk out of my class and throw my chair across the room. As soon as I met my coach and we had time together each week it got much better.”
K’s coach, H, talks about the positive steps they’ve been able to make. “We have a chat and talk about the past week, sometimes are there are difficult things which K opens up about. TLG has excellent resources to help coaches like me talk through some of the things which might have happened. We talk about how to keep calm and we play lots of games together, which gives me a good opportunity to listen!”
“Alongside the usual coaching sessions, we have run transition projects to help support the children through the change from primary to secondary school. We’ve put on events and away days, spending time with them to offer as much support as we’re able to.”
TLG Early Intervention supports struggling children through whatever they’re facing. For one hour a week, trained volunteer coaches spend 1:1 time with a child, to listen to them and champion them. Incredibly, 84% of children coached through TLG Early Intervention reported feeling more confident, and 97% felt more hopeful about their future! Together, our partner churches have coached 499 children in 2021, despite school closures and the disruptions to normal life.
Laura Lacey, EI Coordinator for St Peter’s, Belfast, says "I was working with my coached child last week and we were drawing a “Helping Hand” - looking at 5 trusted adults she could talk to. She put me down as one and says she loves me coming in to see her on a Friday! This amazing feedback highlights the positive work of TLG's Early Intervention programme - and how spending an hour an week really listening and taking an interest in children can have such a positive impact!"
Watch the video below featuring some of our amazing coaches to find out more!
Our Future Builders are paving the road to HOPE so more children recieve support through Early Intervention
Our corporate Future Builder community is growing! TLG Future Builders support struggling children like K by regular giving through their businesses. Their generosity so far is equipping 12 new TLG centres to open and hundreds more children to get the support they need!
"I wanted my company to have a positive impact, I wanted to give back in some way." – CE Change
Hear more from some of our Future Builders about their passion for change!
