Colin Sure Start is a locally based programme working with parents and children under the age of four.  Our main focus is to value and support all children aged 0-4 and their families by providing free services, activities and programmes that focus on early education, health, family support and play development.

Our vision is to reach out to families with children aged 0-4 years…laying foundations, creating opportunities and working in partnership to give every child the best possible start in life.

The aims of Sure Start are to complement the work of existing local services and provide young families with advice on where to go and who to speak to, if they have more specialised needs or problems.

The ongoing support that Sure Start provides can help to make sure that children flourish both at home and when they go to school.

Sure Start aims to improve the ability to learn, health and social development of the children that use its services.

The Sure Start programme is supported by a number of key principles:

• To coordinate, streamline and add value to existing services for young children and their families in local communities
• To involve parents
• To avoid stigma
• To ensure lasting support
• To be sensitive to local families’ needs
• To promote the participation of all local families

Sure Start work is focused on six high outcomes to ensure children are:

• Being healthy
• Enjoying learning and achieving
• Living in safety and with stability
• Living in a society which respects their rights
• Experiencing economic and environmental wellbeing
• Contributing positively to community and society

Colin Sure Start broadly delivers two types of service in the local community; Early Years Services and Family Services. Within each of these areas we offer a diverse range of programmes, activities and support that families can avail of.

Please refer to our Services and Programmes and Activities pages for more detailed information on these services and all the programmes that we offer.

Check out Colin Sure Start in the local news from NVTV piece on our 15th Anniversary in 2017:

https://vimeo.com/246311901https://vimeo.com/246311901

And a piece from the Andersonstown News on our 20th Anniversary Event in 2022:

https://belfastmedia.com/celebrating-20-years-of-colin-sure-start

And a piece from the Andersonstown News in September 2024:

https://belfastmedia.com/watch-colin-sure-start-is-a-lifeline-for-parents