Liz Osborne: Director of Services

As Director of Services, Liz oversees the consistent delivery of all NICFC services and contributes to the ongoing development of the charity’s strategic direction. She works closely with the Services Managers and supports the development of all members of the Services team. Liz enjoys all aspects of her role, particularly developing new services for families and supporting team building.

Liz is married with one daughter and three grand children, and loves family days out in the great outdoors and the beloved family pet dog Sam.

Peter Topping: Youth Programme Manager

Peter has responsibility for overseeing all aspects of the Youth Programme including all of its activities and support services. The role involves managing a team of five Youth and Community Workers who provide support in the home, in the local community and in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.  The most rewarding part of his job is seeing how his team’s work empowers the young people and helps them build confidence and coping strategies as they work towards recovery.

Peter is married with three young boys so life outside work is also pretty busy! In his spare time he likes to keep active by playing sport, taking part in outdoor challenges, mountain walking and he also enjoys the odd pint of Guinness.

Gareth Beattie: Youth Programme Co-ordinator

Gareth’s role involves working with children and young people in the Young Shoulders Programme whose parent or guardian has cancer. He works with young people to offer one-to-one and group support, through a variety of fun activities and residential trips. Gareth feels the best thing about the job is the positive impact his work has on young people and families when they need it most.

Outside work, Gareth loves to travel the world and has been to nearly 70 countries! He recently led a team of husky dogs across the Arctic Circle and trekked the Grand Canyon, all in aid of NICFC!

Jacqui Clancy: Youth Programme Co-ordinator

Jacqui is a Youth Programme Co-ordinator for the North West and works with young people in the community, in their home and on residentials at Narnia. Jacqui has always enjoyed working with young people and finds it extremely rewarding to see them making friends and enjoying Youth Programme events and residentials.

Outside work, Jacqui enjoys gardening, dancing, sign language and helping out at her local youth club.

 

Angela Fee: Youth Programme Co-ordinator

Angela provides support to young people during their cancer treatment- either at home or in the haematology ward of the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. She also works with their brothers and sisters to help them cope with the changes that have occurred in their lives. Angela thoroughly enjoys her job and finds it a privilege to work closely with families at such a sensitive time in their lives. She is happiest when she has brought some fun and laughter into a young person’s life, whether it’s just for a short time during a visit or residential.

Outside work, Angela enjoys spending time with her family, her fiancé Ciaran and their two dogs Maple and Murphy! She loves sailing and gardening and enjoys regular trips to Cork.

Phil Alexander: Youth and Community Worker

Phil works with Young Shoulders families to support young people whose parent or guardian has cancer. He also provides one to one support to children and young people who have been diagnosed with cancer and their siblings. Phil finds that the families he works with are a continual inspiration and he is passionate about making sure all young people feel supported and cared for.

In his spare time, Phil likes to keep himself busy by running, cycling, surfing and travelling around the country in his campervan!

Darren McKinley: Youth and Community Worker

With more than twenty years’ experience in the youth and community sector, Darren works with children and young people diagnosed with cancer, as well as their siblings. He visits young people in their home and organises fun activities in their local community. Darren provides emotional support and advice on many of the issues that arise during their treatment. Along with some of his fellow colleagues, Darren is involved in the Ward Support Programme in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and he also organises residential trips throughout the year.

Outside of work, Darren’s hobbies include spending time with family, supporting his beloved ‘Toon Army’, Newcastle United and running the roads to keep fit. He recently completed the London and Belfast Marathons and plans to do New York later this year!

Angela Rodgers: Senior Family Co-ordinator

Angela’s role involves the day-to-day management of the Family Team which supports families, both in hospital and the community by offering practical, emotional and financial support during this difficult time. In addition to this, Angela continues to work closely with the families to provide support and advice. Angela finds her job both challenging and extremely rewarding and she believes it is a unique privilege to help these families through such difficult times.

Angela spends her free time cruising on Lough Erne, singing and playing the guitar. She is a keen quilter and whiles away many hours at her Singer sewing machine fashioning patchwork quilts.

Caitriona Malone: Family Co-ordinator

Caitriona works closely with families on a daily basis to assess their needs and provide practical and emotional advice on the support that NICFC can offer them. She finds the post  hugely rewarding and feels that the families and children are truly awe inspiring in terms of their ‘grit and grace’

Caitriona has five daughters, who all keep her busy and cool (Well, they try!) She also attends night class to learn/improve her French, which she hopes will bring her closer to her dream – owning a second home in France.

 

Anne Gordon: Family Support Worker

Anne is a Family Support Worker for the South Down and Western area. She provides social, emotional and practical support to children with cancer and their families. She works with families both in the home and in the children’s hospital, providing one-to-one sessions, respite, childcare and age-appropriate activities. Anne finds her job extremely fulfilling and interesting. She loves the varied nature of the role and seeing the energy and enthusiasm that children have for life, despite the challenges they face on a daily basis.

When she’s not working, Anne enjoys card making, scrapbooking, drawing and reading

Alexis McDonald: Family Support Worker

Alexis provides support to families in the North West area. She works with children who are ill, as well as their siblings, and provides weekly respite through structured play and other activities that are tailored to suit individual age group and needs. This gives parents a much-needed break and some time to themselves. Alexis also organises activities for the North West area where families of diagnosed children can get together and have fun in a protected environment. The element of her job that Alexis most enjoys is when a family tells her that their child looks forward to her visiting as it shows that her work has had a positive impact.

In her spare time, Alexis volunteers at the Parents Advice Centre and as a Reflexologist at the Foyle Hospice. She also enjoys going to the gym and is currently learning to speak Spanish.

Lynn Wilson: Family Support Worker

Lynn also works with families in South Down and the West to provide individually tailored social, emotional and practical support. She also provides support in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. Lynn finds her role extremely rewarding and feels it is a privilege to get to know and spend time with such wonderful children and their families.

Lynn has recently gone back to studying, so in the little time that she has outside of work, she enjoys escaping for long walks by the sea and spending as much time as possible with family and friends.

Carol Burns: Family Support Worker

Carol works with families in different parts of NI to provide support and advice as well as practical help for the children themselves, their siblings and parents.

She finds the role very rewarding and also humbling, particularly when she sees a child develop and grow in confidence despite the difficult challenges they face.

Away from work, Carol likes to relax by gardening and reading.

 

Sonia Black: Services Administrator

Sonia provides administrative support to the Youth and Family Programme and is the first point of contact for families who contact NICFC for assistance. She also organises many of NICFC’s big family events including the Easter Party, Summer and Halloween events and the Christmas Party. Sonia finds her job very rewarding and enjoys being able to offer support to families and young people.

Away from work, Sonia loves spending time with her son and playing a round of golf when she gets the chance. Everyone who knows Sonia knows she is a massive Liverpool fan and she watches every match and even travels to watch them play as often as she can!