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Category: Past Events

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Love and Rage ONLINE parenting course

Love and Rage Online 25

What is the Love and Rage Parenting Course?
Why are so many adopted children verbally or physically aggressive?
What are they communicating through their behaviour?
What is the impact of living with a traumatised child?
How do we stay calm in the face of our children’s overwhelmed and overwhelming emotions?

Love and Rage is a six-week programme offered by TESSA/Family Routes for parents of adopted children to explore these frequently asked questions. This course is aimed at parents of children who are struggling to handle and process their big emotions such as rage and anger.

Please fill in the form at the link below to sign up to the next course:

Dates
Tuesday – 7th, 14th, 21st October and then Tuesday 4th, 11th and 18th of November

Venue
Online

Time
6.30-8.30pm

Investment: £60 per participant (equates to £10 per session) Fee must be paid via Bank Transfer upon offer of place. Fee is non refundable if place cancelled within 2 weeks of start date.

For full information and to register:
CLICK HERE

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Surfing the Waves – Parent Workshop

Surfing the Waves for parents


Tuesday 18th November, 10am – 4pm, Coleraine


Parenting a teen can feel overwhelming at times, especially when it feels like you’re facing emotional rollercoasters, behavioural changes, and endless challenges with communication.

If you’ve been wondering how to better connect with and support your teen, you’re not alone!

Surfing The Waves, a programme facilitated by The Creative Psychotherapist, Siobhan Wilson-McGlinchey, designed to help parents, carers and professionals navigate the ups and downs of adolescence.

This programme is perfect for you if you’re:

  • struggling to understand your teen’s behaviour;
  • feel disconnected or unsure how to communicate effectively;
  • are worried about mental health, peer pressure, or social media influence.

Date
Tuesday 18th November

Time
10am – 4pm

Venue
The Sandel Centre, 6 Knocklynn Road, Coleraine BT52 1WT

Cost
£10 per participant (non refundable)

For full workshop information and to register:
CLICK HERE

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Teens Wellbeing Programme

TESSA teens wellbeing programme Sept and Oct 2025


Wellbeing and personal development for teens
Dates in September and October 2025


Please find details and booking link below for our TEENS Wellbeing & Personal Development Programme. It is open to Adopted TEENS aged 12-18 and birth siblings within the household who are also in this age range. 

Course Description
Participants will participate in a fun, practical and gentle approach through shared-experiences with our family of donkeys in a safe and nurturing environment. The course will promote confidence, self-esteem and develop positive well-being whilst encouraging team-working building relationships with each other and the animals. Participants will be encouraged to connect with each other, build upon their social and emotional skills whilst making friends along the way.

Venue:
Learning in Harmony with Donkeys
72 Station Rd, Saintfield, Ballynahinch BT24 7EN

Day & Time:
Wednesday 4.30-6.30pm

Dates:
10th, 17th and 24th September, 1st, 8th and 15th October
Priority will be given to participants who are able to attend all/most sessions

Cost: Investment: £25 per participant (non refundable)

Further details and booking form below.

For more details and to register:
CLICK HERE

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Heads Up Teens Course

Heads Up teen programme

August 2025

TESSA and Family Routes are excited to announce the Heads Up Programme in collaboration with Include Youth and Our Generation. It is aimed at helping young people focus on developing skills and techinques to boost their emotional health and wellbeing.

Venue :  Include Youth, 100 Great Patrick Street, Belfast BT1 2LU

Session dates:  Monday & Tuesday 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 18th and 19th August 2025

Who is it for: This programme is suitable for young people aged 13 – 21 years and is open to adopted young people and siblings who are birth children within the household.

Course Description:
The Heads Up programme will include interactive sessions exploring wellbeing, resilience, identity and personal development. The final session will include a trip to the Odyssey for a bowling celebration event.

For more details and to register:
CLICK HERE

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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

For more details and to register:
CLICK HERE

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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

For more information and to register:
CLICK HERE

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Art Therapy for Parents

Art Therapy for Parents

Creative Cocoon 
‘Life is something endlessly in the process of becoming something else.’
(Richard Holloway)

As an adoptive parent, you will know that life is a juggling act, and that things rarely stay the same for long.  As we move out of the summer, and into the autumn once more, this is your opportunity to cocoon; to take a step back from daily routines and the din of family life. 

Over four consecutive Tuesday evenings in October, we will meet as a small group, and use the medium of art materials to express our family ‘landscapes,’ needs for balance, boundaries and transformation.  Creativity is normally birthed out of chaos, and so the only prerequisite for joining this group is your family’s own unique blend of imperfection.  In our ‘creative cocoon’ we will consider the humble butterfly and what it can teach us about being still, journeying through mess, and surrendering to new beginnings.  

The group will be led by Julie Mehaffy, Art Psychotherapist. Julie has a love for the metaphors found in nature, and views all creativity as a form of self-expression.  There is no need for artistic skill in joining this group, but simply a desire to play around with colours and textures whilst keeping in mind the needs of your wee family.  

Dates:  1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd October 2024

Venue: Family Routes Office, Unit 2, 18 Heron Road, BT3 9LE

Time: 7.00-8.30pm


**Although a ‘group,’ this is an opportunity primarily for self-reflection and so there will be no pressure to share stories or struggles with others unless you choose to do so.

How do I sign up?
CLICK HERE to fill in the registration form.

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A donkey experience

Tessa pre-teen well being course

Pre-teen wellbeing course for ages 7-11

Participants will participate in a fun, practical and gentle approach through shared-experiences with our family of donkeys in a safe and nurturing environment. The course will promote confidence, self-esteem and develop positive well-being whilst encouraging team-working building relationships with each other and the animals. Also, the programme will encourage the participants to connect with each other, build upon their social and emotional skills whilst making friends along the way.

Activities will include caring for and looking after the donkeys, brushing and spending time with them and taking part in activities in the great outdoors with the donkeys as the central learning tool. Also, the participants will take part in a food hunt around the farm determining what’s good for the donkeys to eat and collectively bring the selection of plants together to make a colourful collage which they can take home and cherish.

The programme will conclude with a celebration activity by gathering around the camp fire, toasting marshmallows.

*Please bring with you a snack and a drink, wellie boots, rain coat and wrap up warm in case the weather is changeable.

*Priority will be given to participants who have not engaged in this programme previously.

When:
Fridays 4.30-6.30pm
6th, 13th, 20th and 27th September
4th & 11th October

Where:
Learning in harmony with donkeys, Saintfield.

How do I sign up?
CLICK HERE to fill in the registration form.

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Family Wellbeing Day – Share Centre

Family wellbeing day Share centre

TESSA and Family Routes are excited to announce a Family Wellbeing event being hosted at the SHARE Centre in Enniskillen. This is open to all families who have adopted child(ren) living in Northern Ireland. It will be a lovely opportunity to connect with other families, chat about TESSA services and enjoy a fun day out before the return to school.

Who can come along?
This event is open to all families with at least one adopted child. Activities are suitable for those aged 8+.

The venue has a range of activities available for parents and younger siblings including Mindfulness sessions provided by TESSA, indoor swimming sessions (at own cost) and lovely outdoor settings for picnics and play.

What can you do?

  • 2 hour water based activities: Stand up paddle boarding and Canoeing 11am – 1pm
  • 2 hour land based activities: Archery and Climbing 2pm – 4pm
  • Mindfulness drop in sessions in the afternoon
  • Enjoy the lovely surroundings to have a packed lunch or avail of a hot meal in the on site café.

All wet gear and safety equipment will be provided.

When?
Saturday 17th August 10.45am – 4.00pm

Where?
SHARE Centre, 221 Lisnaskea Road, Enniskillen BT92 0JZ

How do I sign up?
Scan the QR code or click here to fill in the registration form. Following registration, we will be in touch to confirm your place as places are limited.

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Teens Celebration

Teens celebration flyer

TESSA and Family Routes are excited to celebrate the work of the TESSA teens Project, sharing experiences from the past 2 years and celebrating together as a group of Teens and families.

Who can come along?
This event is for anyone with Teens who have benefitted from either 1-1 therapeutic work with TESSA or been a part of our Teen Emotional Health and Wellbeing groups (EFL, Photography, Art, Music, Drumming, Climbing).
Also if you were unable to access these services or are new to TESSA but have teens and are keen to hear about the project please sign up.

Younger siblings are welcome along, Moira Lakes activities are suitable for those aged 5 and over while everyone can avail of the Donkey and Art activities as well as pizza party and treasure hunt.

What can you do?

  • Enjoy the activities on offer from Moira Lakes- Stand Up Paddle boarding, Archery, and Swimming. (All wet gear will be provided)
  • Access therapeutic options from TESSA therapists and Facilitators – EFL(Learning in Harmony with Donkeys) and Art Therapy
  • Explore the treasure hunt around the Lake
  • Enjoy some Pizza
  • Hear about the project and give their own feedback which will help shape the support provided by TESSA in the future
  • Connect with other families with shared experiences

When?
Saturday 7th Sept 11am-3pm

Where?
@ Moira Lakes, 32b Old Church Lane, Aghalee, Craigavon BT67 0EY

How do I sign up?
Scan the QR code or CLICK HERE to fill in the registration form.

Following registration, we will be in touch to confirm your place as places are limited.

QR Code for TESSA Teens Celebration Event