About Us
Meet The Team
At Star we have an unbelievably dedicated team that has a focus on giving you and your child the very best in help and care.
I manage the Project to make sure that parents and children get a safe, effective and fun service with Star within the financial resources we have been given. I am responsible for the range and quality of the services within Star and answer to the management committee.
Lisa
Project Manager
I work in the main office, answering phones, sending out information and making sure that everything runs smoothly with the project.
Jennifer
Project Administrator
I deliver the Star Babies Programme for first time parents, support mums and dads with Breastfeeding and support parents with any queries or worries connected to their children’s health and development.
Caroline
Health Visitor
I focus on helping children have the best possible speech, language and communication skills so that they are ready to start school and make friends. I work with groups of children, with their parents and sometimes with children individually when there are concerns about their communication skills such as their listening, attention, understanding and saying words.
Debi
Speech & Language Therapist
My work focuses on getting to know our new families especially when mum is expecting a baby. I offer groups for parents with young babies and visit families in their own home too. I help with advice on breastfeeding, especially in the first weeks after childbirth.
Wendy
Perinatal Parenting Worker
I work with families with toddlers, including new families registering with Star. I take the lead in working with dads and specialise in helping parents with strategies to help children with their behaviour. I offer groups for parents with toddlers and visit families in their own home too.
TBC
Families & Fathers' Worker
My work focuses on getting to know our new families and working alongside other staff to deliver groups, visit families in their own homes and promote the benefits of attending Star.
Zoe Magill
Family Support Worker
I lead in the Programme for 2-3 year olds and crèche. I deliver play programmes that help children with their learning and development.
Leanne
Early Years Leader
I support the leader in the Programme for 2-3 year olds and crèche. I deliver play programmes that help children with their learning and development.
Sarah
Early Years Deputy Leader
I support the leader and deputy leader in the Programme for 2-3 year olds and crèche. I also deliver play programmes that help children with their learning and development.
Zoe
Early Years Assistant
Management Committee
All Sure Starts are based on Partnerships and have a Management Committee. The committee is the main driver of the Sure Start project making sure that it is meeting local need, fulfilling the aims of Sure Start and operating within its annual budget. The committee has representatives from a range of local health, community, charitable and education agencies within Banbridge as well as parent representatives. The committee is responsible for the overall governance of Star.
Membership can change over time, but current agencies represented include:-
- Ciaran Eastwood – Chairperson
- Parent representatives
- Early Years Organisation
-
Southern Trust representatives from Health Visiting
and Midwifery services - Barnardo’s
- Homestart
- Grace Generation
Ciaran Eastwood Chairperson
Our Generous Funders
In recognition of the role that Sure Start has to play in the delivery and development of early years education services, Sure Start projects are fully funded by the Department of Education (DE), through the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB), for operational delivery of the Programme. DE has policy responsibility and the HSCB undertakes the full operational remit for Sure Start.
DE has a duty to ensure that public funding provided to Sure Start projects is used for the purposes of fulfilling the work set out in the projects’ business plans (agreed to deliver against Sure Start outcomes) and in accordance with the principles of regularity, propriety and value for money.
