About the service
The Children and Youth service is dedicated to empowering families to support children and young people who have sustained an acquired brain injury (ABI). The service operates throughout Northern Ireland.
We recognise that the whole family system is affected when a child or young person sustains an ABI. Our service works with the family unit to enable everyone to better manage the impacts of ABI on daily life. All of our work is underpinned by evidence based practice.
Service elements
Currently, our service provision includes our Youth Empowerment Programme (for ages 12-18) and our Advocacy Service (for ages 0-18).
The Advocacy Service provides practical support tailored to the needs of the child or young person with ABI and their family. The service helps families across Northern Ireland as they access local services for health, education, training, finances or housing.
Our Youth Empowerment Programme supports and empowers young people aged 12 – 18 with acquired brain injury and their families. The programme encompasses the following supports.
Family Based Support
We work in partnership with parents and carers, children, and their siblings to empower the family to make positive progress and become experts in their ABI experience.
Our one-to-one family based support is tailored to meet the needs of the young person and their family and to address specific areas that are important for their well-being. These areas may include:
Improving families' understanding of ABI and its impact on the whole family
Exploring solutions to help manage potential challenges
Enhancing communication and social skills
Addressing cognitive and developmental issues
Supporting families to identify goals and work towards achieving them
Helping families develop skills in managing everyday impacts of ABI
Connecting families with other services and supports
Supporting families to live their best possible lives following childhood ABI.
The peer mentoring programme was delivered in partnership with the Belfast and Southern Trust Community Acquired BI rehabilitation teams.
Advocacy
The service helps families across Northern Ireland as they access local services for health, education, training, finances or housing. Our Advocacy Officers work closely with the Children and Youth practitioners to provide holistic support to families.
Families can get help with completing forms, writing letters and meeting with relevant professionals (ie. health, social care and education and employment).
Parents and carers can join a network where they can:
Build peer support
Share knowledge and experiences
Find out more about what is available in their area.
Examples of how the Advocacy Service has recently helped families:
Attending a meeting with health professionals
Helping with the completion of DLA and PIPS applications
Supporting with an application for alternative transport to attend school/college
Signposting and providing resources related to transition into further education
Liaising with a University about Learning Support
Social Activities
A range of social activities are provided regionally, in person and virtually, for children, young people and their families. The activities give families a chances to connect and meet others with shared experiences.
These activities are planned and led by the young people of Brain Injury Matters.
The benefits of the programme will consist of:
Developing social interaction skills
Encouraging activity outside the family unit
Opportunity for families and siblings to spend meaningful time together
Development of peer friendships
Encourage exploration of personal interests
Having fun!
Please complete a referral form and return via email to referrals@braininjurymatters.org.uk
Virtual Conference
On Monday 10th May we welcomed over 100 people to our virtual conference
"Developing Services for Children Living with Acquired Brain Injury: Good Practice,
Opportunities and Challenges", delivered in partnership with Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
with speakers including Health Minister Robin Swann and Interim Mental Health Champion Siobhán
O’Neill.
To view a recording of the conference, please click on the links below.
Click the link below to read the evaluation report of the conference.
Click the link below to read the Conference Programme
Who can make a referral?
Anyone can make a referral to the Children and Youth Service and we accept referrals from across Northern Ireland.
Some of our past referrals have come from:
Parents/carers
Health professionals e.g. paediatricians, therapists, psychologists
Schools – Principals, SENCOs, teachers
Community clubs e.g. sports coaches, Youth Leaders
Once a referral is received, we will contact the family or referral agent directly to discuss the next steps.
Download a referral form:
Please complete a referral form and return via email to
Family First Project
Our Family First Project for children aged 0-12 ended in 2022, this video highlights the importance and impact of this service
Family First Summary Report
The following document provides a synopsis of the Family First project’s achievements and highlights the considerable difference made to the lives of over 200 people impacted by ABI, the contribution to service provision and the capacity building in education and health services.
Peer Mentoring
The Peer Mentoring project ended in December 2023, this project educated and supported young adults with an ABI to become mentors to a group of young people 13-18 with an ABI. The BBC ran a feature on the film created by the young people to raise awareness of their hidden disability Young people raise brain injury awareness with film - BBC News
Five Year Evaluation Report
authored by Dr Chris McCusker, Vice Head of School; Director, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, University College Cork
