Raising awareness of helplines in Northern Ireland
Raising awareness of helplines in Northern Ireland
Helplines Partnership is in Northern Ireland this week, raising awareness of the important services provided by helplines, as part of NI Helplines Awareness Day.
Chief executive Paula Ojok will join a panel of guests on Wednesday 20 March 2024, speaking about the challenges facing helplines.
Helplines play a vital role in providing support and guidance to people in need. Whether it’s for mental health, crisis intervention, or social services, helplines are lifelines for many. But, despite their essential role, the helpline sector faces several challenges that impede their effectiveness and ability to serve their communities adequately.
Paula said: “Helplines are important because they’re there to help people when they need it most. I’m looking forward to discussing the value of helplines and how we can overcome the challenges to make sure helplines continue to be successful and effective.”
Paula will discuss the challenges with Grainne Boyle, Helpline Practice Manager at NSPCC; Una McKernan, Head of Operations at Patient Client Council; Robbie Butler, Deputy Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party; and Claire O’Prey, Assistant Service Manager at Lifeline. The session will be facilitated by Linda McAuley MBE, from BBC Radio Ulster.
NI Helplines Awareness Day is an annual event, organised by Helplines NI, to increase awareness of the benefits and value of helpline services. Now in its eighth year, the event is an opportunity to discover the importance of helplines and their impact on individuals and communities, share experiences and gain valuable knowledge about the sector. It is taking place at 10am on Wednesday, 20 March 2024 at The Duncairn, Belfast.
At Helplines Partnership, we have been committed to supporting organisations that provide non-face-to-face advice, support and information to improve general wellbeing for over 20 years. We champion the interests of our members and help them to build sustainability and deliver the best service they can for their users.