National Lottery funding brings By Your Side to Northern Ireland
2 mins read
Monday 27 July 2026
We’re delighted to announce that we’ve secured funding from the National Lottery Community Fund to launch our By Your Side service in Northern Ireland for the first time.
By Your Side is Contact’s hospital support service for families with disabled, seriously ill, and additional needs children. We provide support whatever the health condition and whether a diagnosis is in place or not.
Our By Your Side Advisers offer free drop-in support at participating hospitals, giving parent carers the opportunity to talk through anything that is affecting them. From benefits and finances to education, diagnosis, health services and emotional wellbeing.
Where you can find us
Our Northern Ireland service launches this summer in Belfast and Antrim, and you can find us at the following hospitals. You don’t need an appointment; simply drop in during our service hours.
Antrim Area hospital between 10.30am-1.30pm on the following dates:
- Tuesday 28 July
- Thursday 17 September
- Tuesday 13 October
And we’re at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, between10.30am-1.30pm on Thursday 20 August.
More details and dates will be added soon – see our Contact NI Facebook page for updates.
By Your Side now available in three UK nations
Susan Walls, Head of Programmes for Northern Ireland says:
“We’re incredibly grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund for funding By Your Side in Northern Ireland. We know how overwhelming and stressful a hospital stay or appointment can be for families, and so having someone independent who can listen, offer practical advice and provide emotional support makes a real difference.
“This is a significant milestone for Contact. By Your Side is now available in three of the UK’s four nations: England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It means we can reach and support more families than ever during some of their most challenging moments.”
Visit our Contact NI page to see our full offer for families in Northern Ireland. Visit our By Your Side page for more information on our service and participating hospitals around the UK.