SPACE - Supporting People and Communities Everyday

General information

Sometimes we all need a little help just to get by. At SPACE we help families and individuals throughout the Southern Health and Social Care Trust Region to get by when everyday life throws challenges at them.

Our Vision

“A healthy and active population in which every person has access to services and opportunities to enable them to reach their full potential”.

There are three elements to the work that we do.

SPACE 1 – supporting families and individuals. We are the lead organisation for the Newry and Mourne Family Support Hub working with a range of statutory and voluntary organisations to identify solutions for families who are going through tough times. The families we work with are facing challenges including physical and mental health problems, family breakdown, parenting difficulties, financial problems and isolation. All our families live within South Down, South Armagh and rural Craigavon.

We can offer you; family support workers who assist with childcare, household chores, transport to medical appointments etc.

A family support home visit to advise on services, grants and benefits and help you access these by identifying relevant services, making onward referrals and supporting you through the application process.

SPACE 2 – is our outreach work consisting of well being programmes.

SPACE 3 – is our social enterprise – a pre-loved furniture, clothing and gift shop, Love Your Space, is located in central Newry. All income generated by “Love Your Space” is reinvested into the charity to support the work that we do with families and individuals.

The Background

SPACE began life in a small terraced house in Warrenpoint in 2003 after a consultation with local people identified the need for family support throughout rural South Down. Originally known as South Down Family Health Initiative, and funded heavily by the Big Lottery, the organisation grew with an increased demand for our services to be delivered over a much wider area until the decision was taken to move our administrative centre to Newry and re-brand to encompass the wide range of work that we cover.

Whilst we are no longer based in Warrenpoint our passion to support the people in the South Down region remains the same. We remain true to the values of South Down Family Health Initiative, working in a manner that is responsive and respectful of the perceptions and needs of local people, making connections for people by informing, sharing, advocating, supporting, partnering, enabling and empowering. We value our staff, volunteers and Committee and are committed to the on-going development of a professional and quality service with a person centred approach.

Working closely with other charity/voluntary organisations and statutory services, including GPs, Health Visitors, Social Services, Local Council and schools we aim to represent and influence change on behalf of our communities, whilst supporting families and individuals to improve their health and well-being.

SPACE will continue to develop staff, systems and resources to ensure continuous improvement and development of our services to meet the needs of our community.