Quaker Cottage, managed by Quaker Service,
is a cross community family support centre
which provides services for some of the
disadvantaged areas of north and west Belfast.
Who is Quaker Cottage for?
Quaker Cottage is for mothers and their
children who have experienced trauma or
who are having difficulties coping with
the day-to-day management of their homes.
Mothers who attend have individual needs
but typical issues are abuse, alcoholism,
anxiety, bereavement, depression, domestic
violence, and parenting.
What happens at Quaker Cottage?
Our centre strives to create a safe and
caring atmosphere to enable women to share
their feelings freely with emphasis on a
holistic and solution focused approach giving
mothers the space to deal with unresolved
issues.
Each morning the mothers groups are facilitated
by supportive staff who enable them to explore
the issues which are causing them stress
and preventing them from moving on.
The development programme also involves
sharing new experiences together such as
craft work, relaxation sessions and learning
about each other’s culture. In addition
those attending participate in a number
of activities away from the Centre including
a residential for all the families.
Our crèche offers a high staff
to child ratio enabling us to better meet
the needs of the children and stimulate
their development.
The older children participate in a wide
range of other activities which assist them
to build relationships, understand and respect
others, develop skills and have fun. The
programme for 13-18 year olds focuses on
personal development skills (e.g. communication)
increasing self-confidence, promoting mutual
respect and understanding as well as some
recreational activities.
What does Quaker Cottage hope
to achieve?
Quaker Cottage aims to provide a safe
and caring environment where increased self-esteem,
greater family understanding and co-operation,
improved social and life skills, enhanced
development and mutual understanding and
respect, are actively promoted.
