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Support organisations
Here you can read useful information about support organisations. Select a topic to find out more.- Age sector organisations
- Organisations that provide advice or information
- Voluntary and community organisations
Age sector organisations
Age NI
Age NI offers services such as advice and advocacy, their First Connect service that supports independent living, a 24-hour response service, residential care, day care, domiciliary care and specialist support for older people with dementia.For direct access to advice, information and practical support on a wide range of issues including welfare benefits, community care, housing and health, contact Age NI Advice and Advocacy Services, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, 8am to 7pm freephone 0808 808 7575 or visit the Age NI website
Engage with Age
Engage with Age works to improve the quality of life and health and wellbeing of older people in south and east Belfast and Castlereagh. They are a partnership of older people's forums, statutory and voluntary organisations working together. Engage with Age work with individuals and groups on a wide range of issues such as:- transport for groups
- accessible transport for individuals
- services and opportunities for older people providing care for loved ones
- pensions and benefits
- podiatry service
- activities and events taking place in your local community
- IT classes for older people
- arts workshops for older people
- keeping yourself safe at home
- being safe our in your community.
Older people's forums and groups
West Belfast Senior Citizens Forum
The West Belfast 50+ Forum includes individuals and representatives from older persons groups as well as the voluntary, community and statutory sector. The Forum shares information of benefit to older people as well as campaigning on issues that concern them, for example, social isolation, transport and pensioner poverty. Meetings will take place at 10.30am in Falls Community Council, 275-277 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 6FD on the following dates:- 25 May 2012
- 29 June 2012
Greater Shankill Seniors Citizens Forum
The Greater Shankill Senior Citizens Forum is made up of individuals and representatives from older peoples groups as well as the voluntary, community and statutory sector. It strengthens links between older people across the Greater Shankill area, sharing information and lobbying on issues of concern. Meetings will take place at 10.00am in in the Dance Studio, Spectrum Centre, 331-333 Shankill Road, Belfast, BT13 3AA, on the following dates:- 31 May 2012
- 28 June 2012
North Belfast Senior Citizens Forum
North Belfast Senior Citizens Forum (NBSCF) represents older people's groups in North Belfast. The forum provides an outreach benefits advice service as well as lobbying, advocating and fund raising on behalf of older people. The forum is also a networking and information sharing organisation.For more information or to find out about membership or access to services phone 028 9074 9944.
South Belfast Lifestyle Forum
The South Belfast Lifestyle Forum provides information, development support and transport. It has three aims:- Connecting - Strengthening and maintaining support networks and opportunities for social interactions among older people in South Belfast
- Influencing - Challenging and influencing organisations and political processes to meet the needs of older people
- Informing - Promoting and distributing accessible and clear information on services, activities and policies that impact on older people.
Castlereagh Lifestyle Forum
Castlereagh Lifestyle Forum provides a forum for representatives of older people's group in the area and has three aims:- Making connections and encouraging mutual support among older people
- Influencing decision makers to meet the needs of older people
- Spreading information about opportunities, services and activities for older people.
East Belfast Seniors Forum
The East Belfast Seniors Forum provides a forum for representatives of older people's groups in East Belfast. The forum has three aims:- To influence decision makers to meet the needs of older people
- To build confidence and skills
- To share information about opportunities, services and activities.
Age Sector Platform
Age Sector Platform (ASP) was set up to campaign and lobby for older people in Northern Ireland.If you would like more information or your group is interested in becoming a member, telephone 028 9031 2089 or visit the Age Sector Platform website
Organisations that provide advice or information
Belfast Healthy Ageing Strategic Partnership
The aim of Belfast Healthy Ageing Strategic Partnership (HASP) is to provide leadership in developing a joined up approach to the planning and delivery of services which promote the health, wellbeing and independence of older people in Belfast. The partnership is currently focussing on four key issues:- joined up information and advice
- community capacity building
- combating social isolation
- home support services or care and repair.
Advice NI
Advice NI is a membership organisation which exists to provide support for independent advice organisations and centres around Northern Ireland to deliver high quality, advice services. They have over 70 member organisations operating throughout the country.Advice NI also provides advice to the general public and has trained advisors who can help with enquiries on a range of matters including social security, housing, debt, consumer and employment issues.
For more information contact Advice NI on 028 9064 5919 or visit www.adviceni.net
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Citizens Advice helps people resolve their debt, benefits, housing, legal, discrimination, employment, immigration, consumer and other problems.Their trained advisors provide specialist information and advice on 14 different areas of the law including consumer issues, employment legislation, social security benefits, money advice, health, housing rights and other legal matters.
For more information visit www.citizensadvice.co.uk
Consumer Council
The Consumer Council's role is to speak up for consumers and give them a voice. They offer information and education campaigns, influencing the public and private sectors, undertaking research and producing publications. They can also help individual consumers with complaints about a wide range of issues.For general enquiries phone 028 9067 2488 or visit www.consumercouncil.org.uk
If you have a complaint about buses, trains, planes, ferries, natural gas, electricity, coal or water, telephone 0800 121 6022 or email complaints@consumercouncil.org.uk
Consumer Advice Centre
The Consumer Advice Centre provides free specialist advice to consumers and traders in Belfast on consumer issues such as faulty goods, shopping complaints, bad service and holiday complaints.For more information phone 028 9032 8260 or email consumeradvice@belfastcity.gov.uk
Telephone support services
A number of organisations in the Belfast area run Good Morning Projects. A Good Morning Project is a free and confidential telephone service for older people and those feeling vulnerable. Contact your local Good Morning Project between 9am and 1pm.| Project | Telephone number |
|---|---|
| Good Morning West Belfast | 028 9020 0228 |
| Good Morning North Belfast | 028 9071 9200 |
| Good Morning Colin (includes Twinbrook,Colin and Greater Dunmurry areas) | 028 9062 7863 |
| Recall Project (includes south and east Belfast) | 028 9046 9946 |
If you get an answer machine when you phone, leave a message and someone will ring you back.
Support organisations fact sheet
This fact sheet lists the organisations that offer services to older people and their contact details.
Download the support organisations fact sheet (Word - 100KB)
