A group of Belfast mums have said they will do all that they can to ensure that the Quaker Cottage family centre stays open and can continue its work helping families.
The family centre halfway up Black Mountain is due to close at the beginning of December due to funding issues, with those using the service saying that it will be a huge blow to families in North and West Belfast as "there is nowhere that gives you the help and support like Quaker Cottage."
The centre has had some of its funding withdrawn by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and has a funding shortfall of £275,000, which means that it is going to have to close its doors in December after 42 years supporting the community.
Read more: Sadness as North Belfast family centre to close after '40 years of helping parents and children'
Speaking to Belfast Live, mums Ashleen Moyes and Paudie McKernon said that they are trying to do all that they can to keep Quaker Cottage open and they fear that its closure will be devastating for parents and families.
They said that going to the family centre is the highlight of their family's week and they would not know what position they would be in if they did not have the staff helping them.
Paudie said: "Quakers are so important to me because it has helped me and my two children. My daughter has been diagnosed with a disability and she doesn't really speak much, she has about 10 words, so coming to Quakers helps her to speak, it helps her with her motor skills and because she looks at Quakers as being like family she is able to trust them.
"It has helped me mentally, because I was in a place where I was very very down and the day that they came to my door and asked me to come back, I jumped into their arms and started crying. Getting up on a Monday and a Thursday to go to Quakers is important to me and important to my mental health."
Ashleen: "It means the absolute world for me to come here because I never would have crossed a door at all.
"I first came here five years ago when my daughter was only one. I was a first time mum and didn't know what to do and had tried to commit suicide shortly before that. Quakers helped me a lot when I was in that dark place and last year when I got into that dark place again, they were checking up on me for a full year.
"I got the chance to have my second experience back here and my wee girl will come here on a Tuesday after school by herself and I got with my son on a Monday and a Thursday, and we all love it. I would be lost if I didn't have Quakers here.
"I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for them."
The mums claimed that funding was withdrawn from the service after it was asked to change the work that it does by going into service user's homes and working with their families, rather than them coming to the centre.
Paudie said: "Why can't Quakers stay the same and provide the same service for the people of Belfast that it has for the past 42 years?
"It helps parents and children of all ages right up until they are 18 and there are people who have been given a second chance because of the work they do.
"The mums who are using the service have now come together and we are planning to do all that we can to keep Quakers open and we have written to the Health Minister, MLAs and other political reps in order to see what we can do to get the funding that is needed.
"Quakers managed to survive through the troubles so why cannot not survive now?"
Video by Harry Bateman.
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