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Community Family Support Programme

The Community Family Support Programme supports families as they make life changing decisions to improve their everyday lives. It's delivered by family support organisations in the heart of the community.

Support for families

If your family needs help, support is available. If you or a family member isn't in education, employment or training, you will get help and advice to address your needs and access to a range of positive opportunities.

Your family will receive help and support to address any health, social and economic issues that impact your daily lives.

Family members aged 13 to 16 years will also receive support to address their educational needs.

Family support workers will meet and speak  to your family to help you find ways to tackle your own specific challenges and needs.

Types of support

The support provided on the programme is directly matched to your own needs and may include help with:

  • accessing suitable education, employment and training opportunities
  • developing skills to find work, creating CVs, job-searching and preparation for job interviews
  • self confidence, motivation and social skills
  • parenting skills
  • encouraging better relationships within families
  • improving your health
  • money management and benefit advice

Access to specialist support

Your family support worker, in partnership with specialist support organisations, will help your family get any specialist support you need, such as help for drug and alcohol misuse, debt management and family counselling.

Taking part in the programme

Your family can take part in the programme if you:

  • have at least one member of the family aged 16 or over who is not in education, employment or training
  • have educational, employment, training health, social, or economic issues that need to be addressed
  • are committed to seeking ways to improve your lives

How to join the programme

You can join the Community Family Support Programme by contacting a programme provider directly.

Family Support Hubs, Health & Social Care Trusts or other family support agencies / organisations that are already working with you can also refer you to the programme.  

Providers can be found at Community Family Support Programme projects.

This programme is part funded by the European Social Fund.

If you don't qualify for the Community Family Support Programme, you can find other projects provided as part of the European Social Fund on the page below:

  • European Social Fund projects

More useful links

  • Careers
  • What to do, where to learn
  • 11 to 19: your learning and career options

Chat with a careers adviser

Careers webchat is available from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm.  Outside of these hours, or if all advisers are busy, you can ask questions online.  Before using the webchat service, read the Careers Service’s privacy notice

 Chat with a careers adviser in Northern Ireland

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Extra help starting or staying in work

  • Adviser Discretion Fund (ADF)
  • Community Family Support Programme
  • Employment support for people with disabilities or health conditions
  • European Social Fund
  • Help from your local Jobs and Benefits office
  • Helping you into work
  • Support if you're employed or looking for work
  • Training programmes available
  • Work Experience Programme
  • Work schemes for people with disabilities or health conditions

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