Support Services
Care Home Friends
Great online resources to plan a church service in a care home or nursing home
Faith in Later Life
Our mission is to inspire and equip Christians and churches to reach, serve and empower older people in every community, so that they may live fulfilled and fruitful lives in older age.
Store House North Down
Storehouse North Down exists to serve those families and individuals throughout the North Down area who have no where to turn. We believe that no one in the North Down area of Northern Ireland should have to go hungry.
Storehouse partners with many different charities and agencies throughout Bangor & North Down, who work day in and day out with families and individuals in difficult situations.
Through these partnerships Storehouse forms connections with those most genuinely in need. Often, through no fault of their own, or through poor choices, they’ve found themselves caught in cycles of poverty that seem impossible to break.
Storehouse aims to help break those cycles by providing emergency food packages for a set period of time.
Simon Community
Simon Community is a voluntary organisation based in Northern Ireland which provides emergency accommodation, advice and community support for people who are homeless or who are at risk of becoming homeless.
Call us if you are at risk of becoming homeless or you are homeless.
North Down YMCA
Aims to provide a welcome to members in a meeting place which is theirs to share, where friendships can be made and counsel sought. Develop activities which stimulate and challenge its members in an environment that enables them to take responsibility and find a sense of achievement. Involve all members in care and work for others. Create opportunities for exchanging views, so that its members can improve their understanding of the world, of themselves and of one another.
Christians Against Poverty (CAP)
We are passionate about lifting people out of debt and poverty through our award winning debt help service and money management course, the CAP Money Course. We started in 1996 when John Kirkby gave up his successful career in consumer finance to help people out of misery and poverty associated with unmanageable debt. We have grown into a national charity with a vision to have a CAP Debt centre, opened in partnership with a local church, in every town and city across the UK.
Addiction NI
Counselling, support and information service for people aged 18+ who are affected by alcohol and drug misuse. Services are provided free of charge within community based venues or within the client’s own home.
• Alcohol Clinics – Single 20 minutes session involving an assessment, motivational advice and support
• Counselling Service – Suitable for those motivated to reduce drinking levels and alcohol related harm – up to 6 sessions
• Family Intervention Service – Aims to support adult family members affected by another person’s alcohol misuse. The person misusing alcohol does not need to be engaged in any other services for the family to avail of this service.
St Vincent de Paul
The St Vincent de Paul Society (or as it is often known – the SVP) is an international Christian voluntary organisation dedicated to tackling poverty and disadvantage by providing practical assistance to those in need – irrespective of ideology, faith, ethnicity, age or gender.
The Society is a lay organisation initially formed in Paris in 1833 by Blessed Frédéric Ozanam and his companions, and active in England & Wales since 1844. Placed under the Patronage of St Vincent de Paul, it is inspired by his thinking and works. It seeks, in the spirit of justice and charity, to help those who are suffering poverty in whatever form.
Extern
We are the trusted, forward looking charity that changes people’s lives, by meeting them at their point of need. We bring solutions and deliver quality services reconnecting people with society, building better communities for us all. Extern operate out of YMCA building on High Street in Bangor and have taken over the role previously fulfilled by FASA in regard to addiction and substance abuse.
Pilgrims Friend Society
Brain & Soul Boosting for Seniors
Churches and faith groups have found our Brain and Soul Boosting for Seniors’ workbook sessions work so well in encouraging and motivating their seniors that they have begun to devise their own session themes, too, being careful to stick to the overall structure. Sally Trigg and Jo Dunne have taken the lead in their church and have encouraged other local churches to do the same.
Serving one another in Love
A Church checklist for people living with dementia – for those being cared for at home, in care homes or those living with dementia and still in our churches.
God’s Purpose for His Seniors
When we release the unique qualities older people acquired over a life time, we are honouring God’s purpose for them and enriching our church life. Everyone benefits – young and old! Here are 10 tips for achieving this.
Guide To Support Services For North Down Residents
Salvation Army Befriending Service
https://churchworksnorthdown.com/salvation-armyReaching out to serve – into the world of the hurting, broken, lonely, dispossessed and lost – caring, cheering, sharing, and declaring. Following approaches from lonely people within the Bangor community, the Salvation Army Bangor Befriending Service was formally established in the Spring of 2013: what began as a pilot project continues to expand in response to growing demand and positive feedback.
Read More
Safe Zone
Safe Zone is a project started in the early 1980s aimed at sharing God’s love with the vulnerable, disorientated and the needy in the town centre on busy weekend nights.
The Safe Zone team is made up of volunteers from a number of local churches in Bangor and the surrounding area. A typical night with the Team might involve handing out bottles of water, hot tea/coffee and talking to people and offering support to those who are distressed or vulnerable. As part of working towards creating a ‘Safe Zone’ the Team might also intervene in conflict situations and would try to calm any developing tensions on the street.
A mobile unit operates on Bangor Seafront on Friday and Saturday evening from 8pm – 2.30am and is monitored by the PSNI & CCTV. The unit provides information on support services for domestic violence, substance abuse and acts as a base for refreshments/chat and prayer.
To volunteer for the Safe Zone Team or for more information, please contact Phil Craig.
Womens Aid
Women’s Aid is the key national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children. We support a network of over 300 dedicated specialist domestic violence services across the UK.
Age UK
We believe in a world where everyone can love later life. Age UK is here to inspire, enable and support older people to help people make the most of later life.
Volunteer Now
Volunteer Now works to promote, enhance and support volunteering across Northern Ireland. Volunteer Now is about connecting with individuals and organisations to build healthy communities and create positive change.
Volunteer Now enhances recognition for the contribution volunteers make, provides access to opportunities and encourages people to volunteer.
We provide training, information, guidance and support to volunteer-involving organisations on issues of good practice and policy regarding volunteering, volunteer management, child protection, safeguarding vulnerable adults and governance.
Citizens Advice Bureau
We aim to provide the advice people need for the problems they face and improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives. We provide free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination.