Media Contact: Nicolas White - 07822
811378 / nicolas.white@actionforchildren.org.uk
Photographs available from Harrison Photography on 02890
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Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of the
Edinburgh yesterday (Thursday 21st October 2010) attended
a reception at Hillsborough Castle for Action for Children to
celebrate the charity's 10th anniversary in Northern
Ireland.
Her Majesty The Queen has been the Patron of Action for Children
for more than 45 years, supporting the charity's work with
vulnerable and neglected children and young people. Amongst the
guests were staff, service users and supporters, many of whom have
been championing the children's charity since its inception in
Northern Ireland in July 2000.
Ten years on from establishing a three-room office on Malone Road
in Belfast, Action for Children Northern Ireland now employs
almost 200 staff members. And today both Her Majesty The Queen and
The Duke of Edinburgh, assisted by children supported by Action for
Children, cut the 10th anniversary cake during the event which was
hosted by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Owen
Paterson.
The charity supports over 5,000 of Northern Ireland's most
vulnerable and neglected children, young people and families and
helps them break through injustice, deprivation and
inequality.
Action for Children's life-changing work in Northern Ireland is
carried out through 18 diverse projects - including family centres,
Sure Starts, fostering initiatives and young carer services - in
Antrim, Armagh, Derry/ Londonderry, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Belfast and
Greater Belfast. In 2008, new headquarters were established at
Loughshore House, 10 Heron Road in Belfast.
Dame Clare Tickell, Chief Executive of Action for Children, said:
"We are very proud of our achievements in Northern Ireland over the
past 10 years, and are delighted to be celebrating this
anniversary.
"We are very aware of the challenges that children, young people
and families will be facing in the current harsh economic climate,
and we hope that during the next decade we will continue to make a
difference to the lives of children in Northern Ireland."
Since Action for Children Northern Ireland's first operational work
at the Larne Parental Support Project in 2002, some its successful
projects have included: