TESSA Summer Programme ‘Spaces to be me’

TESSA summer programme

July and August 2025

TESSA in partnership with Playboard NI are providing a  ‘Spaces to be me’  Children’s Summer programme across 5 sessions in July and August.

Venue :  New Life City Church  (indoor and outdoors)
Twin Spires Complex, 143 Northumberland St, Belfast BT13 2JF

Session dates:  Tuesdays – 22nd, 29th July, 5th, 12th and 26th August.
Session times: 10-12 noon  

Who for: Adopted Children aged 9-11 (birth children in this age range are also welcome to sign up)   

Course Description:
Spaces to be aims to support children to:– Increase mental health literacy – Enhance emotional resilience
 – Develop self-help and coping skills – Encourage inclusivity and acceptance of difference – Increase knowledge of community

Kicking off Summer Quiz Night

Kicking off Summer quiz night TESSA

KICKING OFF SUMMER – a quiz night fundraiser for the work of TESSA NI

Struggling to remember what you ate for lunch today but have the Jingle of a TV advert from 1995 stuck in your head? This night is for you!!! (also if you were born after 1995 and are over 18 it’s for you too!)

As part of TESSA’s local community fundraising plan we are ‘KICKING OFF SUMMER’ with a quiz night! 

Where: @ Horatio Todds, Belfast BT4 3EZ  

When: Tuesday 1st July starts at 8:30pm 

Who: Anyone over 18

Conal McAlorum 

Conal McAlorum 

Play Therapist

Conal is a Play Therapist, Social Worker, Artist and trained Art and Design teacher. He has worked with children and young people with emotional/mental health difficulties for twelve years. He currently works in CAMHS on a part time basis alongside his private Play Therapy practice.

His therapueic practice is informed by his range of training including Play Therapy, Family Therapy/Systemic Practice and theoretical training in trauma treatment. Conal has an interest in working with children and young people who have experienced developmental trauma. He also has an interest in working with children who have a diagnosis of ASD/ADHD. Conal practices as an Artist and is registered with Play Therapy UK and NISCC.

Professional qualifications
2022 PG Diploma in Play Therapy, LBU
2022 Post Graduate Certificate in Systemic Practice and Family Therapy, QUB
2011 BSC (Hons) Social Work, QUB
2014 BSC (One Module) Trauma: Theoretical Aspects of Treatment Modalities, QUB
2006 PGCE Art and Design, JMU
2001 BA (Hons) Fine and Applied Arts, UUB

Frances Armstrong

Frances Armstrong

Location:
Enniskillen/Omagh and surrounding areas

I am registered with: BACP

Code of Ethics observed: BACP

Professional qualifications include:
• Provisional Post Graduate Diploma in Play Therapy
• Post Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills
• Level 1 Award in British Sign Language
• Diploma in Baby Yoga & Toddler Yoga
• Level 3 Certificate in First Line Management
• BTEC Higher National Certificate in Early Childhood Studies
• NVQ Level 3 Early Years Care and Education

Some other short training courses I have completed are:
• AutPlay Introduction & Foundations
• Supporting Trauma-Informed Assessments MACE
• Breathe and Recover
• Sand tray therapy / trauma approach
• The Nurturing Programme
• Art as therapy
• Lego based workshop
• Jungian sand therapy
• Mini Me Yoga
• Intensive Filial Therapy
• Teaching Children Meditation
• Working with the body
• Baby Massage
• Data Protection Awareness
• Observation and Documentation
• Designing Programmes for Early Learning
• Media Initiative for Children – Respecting Difference
• Facilitative Leadership
• Caring for Children with Special Needs
• Working with Parents in Challenging Situations
• Grief Trauma and the Helping Relationship
• Transition from Conflict
• Skills for a Helping Relationship
• Mental Health First Aid
• Early Movers: Promoting physical Activity for the Early Years
• Calm Confident Soles (Reflexology for 0 – 5 years)
• Incredible Years – Parents, Teachers and Children Training Series
• DELTA Developing Early Listening and Talking Abilities
• Elklan and Hanen Speech and Language Support
• Peep for Practitioners (Supporting Parents/Carers and Children to learn together)

I work with:
Parents with babies from 3 months old doing Baby yoga or Yoga with babies. Toddlers again with parents or carers for Toddler yoga, both of these can be individual or in groups.
In Play Therapy I work with children from 3 years, individual or with parent/carer.

Special interests and experience:
I have worked with children for over 40 years. I have worked in play groups and nursery. I was a registered childminder, looking after children in my own home. I volunteered in youth club, summer schemes and I was a Sunday school teacher for 24 years.
I develop/provide classes and fun activities for parents/carers and children using the Peep Learning Together Programme. This is an early intervention which supports parents to understand more about how children learn – and to do more of the things at home which make a difference to children’s outcomes, like singing, sharing books and stories and talking about a wide range of ideas, thoughts and feelings.
I facilitate Baby and Toddler yoga classes. These classes enhance playful interaction and communication between parent/carer and child. Promotes their healthy development through touch and movement, by doing simple exercises together, they get to know each other better, increasing their ability to cope positively with new situations and social relations over the early years and beyond. Joint relaxation is beneficial for both the parent and the child as it enhances non-verbal communication between them.
I facilitate the Incredible years parent programme.
I enjoy the outdoors and provide activities for parents and children outdoor as much as possible, as it promotes physical development and well being.

Additional information:
I am very fond of animals, have lots of pets and I enjoy helping out on the family farm.