Children's centre chief objects over plan for homelessness centre next door

A children's centre has said it is "under threat" because of plans for a homelessness service to move into a building next door.

Foodstock, which aims to tackle poverty in Belfast, runs the children's centre and its founder, independent councillor Paul Doherty, said the move is a "child safeguarding issue".

He said the concern is "not who is turning up, but there may be people turning up and attending in distress, crisis or in unpredictable circumstances".

However, Extern chief executive Leslie-Ann Scott said people should not be viewed as a safeguarding concern "simply because they need help".

Extern provides support to those with issues such as substance abuse, poor mental health and homelessness.

It is understood Extern initially planned to include a needle and syringe exchange service at the building on King Street in Belfast city centre, but because of objections by Foodstock this has since been scrapped.

Extern said the building will primarily serve as an office base for staff while anyone attending will only do so "by appointment".

Foodstock's children's centre provides free education, transfer test tuition and support to families.

Doherty, an independent councillor for west Belfast, said the Extern facility will provide a service dealing with "complex and potentially high-risk situations into the building immediately next door".

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme, Doherty said he wanted to see Extern's services "supported but not at the cost of our children's centre".

"They specifically refer to safeguarding arrangements – risk management, risk assessment, CCTV – if this office needs increased security, it needs it for a reason."

When asked whether he was categorising people as a risk simply because they are homeless, Doherty said he understood that "people deserve to be treated with dignity and have the most appropriate help", but "putting this next to a children's education centre is a serious child safeguarding risk".

"Our concern is not who is turning up, but there may be people turning up and attending in distress, crisis or in unpredictable circumstances; and arrivals and departures from there could occur right beside children and families entering our centre – that is a foreseeable safeguarding concern."

He added that, regardless of the needle exchange plan being scrapped, he did not believe Extern's plan was appropriate.

"We'll continue to oppose this proposal and we're not going to stand by and allow the opportunities created by this centre to be cruelly taken away from our children."

Scott said she was concerned that people "experiencing homelessness or housing instability should not be viewed as a risk to children simply because they require support".

She added that people accessing the service will include families with dependent children, young people leaving care and individuals facing a range of housing related challenges.

"Of those seeking support, many are experiencing the impact of poverty, ill health, trauma, domestic abuse, exploitation, family breakdown or wider cost-of-living pressures," said Scott.