Parents across Belfast have expressed their sadness as a beloved family centre "like nothing else in Northern Ireland" has announced it will soon close.
Quaker Cottage on Ballygomartin Road, has been providing support to mum and their children in North and West Belfast for 40 years and has helped multiple generations of parents through difficult times and the challenges of raising their kids.
Due to funding issues, the family centre has issued a statement on social media saying that it will close its doors in December, breaking the hearts of families who have used it over the years and have called it a "lifeline" for new mothers that is "like nothing else in Northern Ireland".
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Mums who have used the centre in recent years spoke to Belfast Live about the impact that its closure will have on their families and future parents who will no longer have access to the life-changing service.
Ashleen Moyes first went to Quaker Cottage five years ago after she began struggling with her mental health following the birth of her daughter Nevaeh and said that the support from the staff there "made her a new person".
She said: "After the birth of my daughter I was really struggling with my mental health and was referred to Quaker Cottage. Within a year they had turned me into a new person with all of the help and support I received and I cannot thank them enough for everything they have done for my family.
"The way they look after you and your children is like nothing else in Northern Ireland and there will be countless mums in North and West Belfast who will know just how important this centre has been to our lives.
"It is a safe place for us and our children, and they allow new mums to come to terms with raising their babies while also giving them time to look after themselves. We are able to go to the centre and let our hair down with friends while the amazing staff look after our little ones and I was very grateful to be asked to come back following the birth of my son AJ.
"The after school clubs that they run for the children are the highlight of Nevaeh's week and they really go above and beyond for every single person there.
"To hear that it is going to close is heartbreaking and I am devastated for the staff there who have become like family to all of us. If there is anything that we can do to keep this centre open we need to do it."
Paudie McKernon has been attending the centre with her children Cillian and Clodagh and said that the work that it does with families in Belfast is "incredible".
She said she is very sad for the staff who have become such important parts of their lives and does not think that it is fair that they are to lose their jobs in the weeks before Christmas.
Paudie said: "We were offered to attend Quakers Cottage due to my daughter being diagnosed with William's Syndrome and the support that we have received has been incredible.
"It brings people together from across communities in North and West Belfast and it is going to be such a devastating loss to the area.
"They do everything from helping new mums learn how to raise their children to after school clubs, but it also gives us a place where we can relax and have a bit of time to ourselves. Most importantly it provides everyone with two lovely hot meals every week which can be so important to new families who are struggling just to get through the day.
"They hold special events for the children and are so thoughtful when it comes to Christmas and special occasions and they never miss someone's birthday.
"I just hope that there is some way that we can prevent this from happening."
Sammyjo McClellend has been attending the centre for a number of years with her children Jordan, Cameron and Grace and said that her mum and aunty had previously used the centre with her when she was little.
She said: "Quaker Cottage has played a part in generations of families in North and West Belfast from both communities and its closure is going to be such a massive loss to us all.
"My mum and aunty both used the centre when I was little and I have been very grateful to get the opportunity to come here and I cannot thank them enough for everything they have done. For 40 years they have become like family to so many people.
"The after school clubs have become the highlight of my son's week and I have made wonderful friends here with the other mums, staff and volunteers.
"To think that they are going to lose their jobs in the weeks before Christmas after all the good they have done for the people of Belfast is heartbreaking and we need to do something to try and keep this centre from closing and we are determined to do all that we can to keep it open."
A statement on social media from the Quaker Cottage Family Centre said: "It is with heavy hearts that we have to share the sad news that due to major funding issues Quaker Cottage Family Centre will be closing its doors in December.
"Quaker Cottage has delivered top quality family support to so many families in north and west Belfast for over 40 years. It has been an honour and a privilege to have been involved in the lives of so many mums, children, and young people, through thick and thin, good times and bad, happy and sad. We’ve experienced and shared so many major life events with you all, births, deaths, marriages, illness, recovery, pain and pleasure, and every emotion in between.
"Thank you for letting us be a part of your family. We believed in you and you believed in yourselves, which was the greatest gift you could give to our staff team.
"We need to give a big shoutout to all our many international volunteers without whom it would have been impossible to keep the cottage running. You were an integral and valued part of the team and brought such diversity and richness of experience to our little home on Quaker Mountain. We also benefited from the input of shorter term volunteers from closer to home namely those from Friends School in Lisburn and others who supported our children’s work every summer making our summer programme so much fun! Thank you so much for your contribution to the life of the cottage.
"So from our ‘Quaker Family’ to yours, to all our friends and neighbours, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the love and friendship over the years. We love you all and are sending hugs and kisses and well wishes your way from our home halfway up the mountain."
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