Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People

This is an infographic featuring a quote from the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People, Chris Quinn, about young people to mark International Youth Day.

To mark #youthday2025, Commissioner @chrisniccy.bsky.social shares his views on the strength of young people and how they can make a positive impact on society worldwide🌍

Read Chris’s full statement here - www.niccy.org/news/childre...

@nihrc.bsky.social

Happy International Youth Day 2025! ✌️🌍

This year, NICCY are celebrating the local actions of young people who promote and protect children’s rights.

Watch NICCY Youth Panel members, Grainne, Donnacha, and Síofra share why young people’s voices and actions need to be heard. #YouthDay2025.

This is an infographic that says 'we need better spaces for play' Wednesday 6 August 2025.

Happy #Playday2025 🤗 Commissioner @chrisniccy.bsky.social and #TeamNICCY support Playboard NI's call for government and local authorities to invest in spaces for play as a fundamental right for children.

Read Chris's views on the right to play - www.niccy.org/news/playday...

#SpacesForPlay.

This is an infographic featuring a statement from Chris Quinn which can be read on our website - https://www.niccy.org/news/statement-from-the-commissioner-on-daera-climate-action-plan/

Commissioner @chrisniccy.bsky.social welcomes the publication of the @daera-ni.gov.uk draft Climate Action Plan, which is open for public consultation.

Read Chris's full statement on our website - niccy.org/news/stateme...

#generalcomment26.

This is an infographic saying News: Commissioner Issues Full Statement on Anti-Poverty Strategy.

Read Commissioner Chris Quinn's full statement, which calls for changes to the draft anti-poverty strategy.

The strategy is currently available for public consultation on the Department for Communities website until 19 September.

www.niccy.org/news/commiss...

This is an infographic of Commissioner Chris Quinn sharing his views on the NI anti-poverty strategy consultation which was published today.

Commissioner Chris Quinn has shared his views on the announcement of the Anti-Poverty Strategy consultation which has been published today.

Visit the Department for Communities website to take part in the consultation www.communities-ni.gov.uk/consultation....

#antipovertystrategygroup.

3.4K views · 69 reactions | Generation Hope campaign advisers worldwide created this video to connect with the inspiring Youth Panel, who support the Northern Ireland Commissioner... | By ‎Save the Ch... Generation Hope campaign advisers worldwide created this video to connect with the inspiring Youth Panel, who support the Northern Ireland Commissioner...

Here's a special message for children in Northern Ireland from a group of Save the Children global ambassadors. This film was shown at @nichildcom.bsky.social youth panel event which focused on linking children up through climate action. @emmetnorris.bsky.social www.facebook.com/SCEgypt/vide...

Advice to Government: School Uniforms (Guidance and Allowances) Bill - Niccy Submissions to Government on the School Uniforms Bill.

Read full submissions on the School Uniforms Bill at shorturl.at/U5l9e

Today, members of our Youth Panel and the Commissioner are giving evidence to the @niassembly.gov.uk Committee for Education on the School Uniforms Bill.

Watch here niassembly.tv/live-stream-3/

3/3 Day two addressed child migration and asylum. Chris and other delegates from across Europe, including leaders, charities, and children’s rights teams, learned a great deal about the ‘EU Pact on Migration and Asylum’ and how it might impact children.

2/3 Day one focused on a Europe-wide discussion about countries working together to make sure children’s rights are respected worldwide using the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

1/3 This week, Commissioner @chrisniccy.bsky.social set off to Luxembourg for ENOC’s Spring Seminar 2025 to talk, share ideas, and make plans to protect children better ⭐️ #ENOCSeminar2025, #ForEveryChildEveryRight.

Speaking at today's NI Assembly's Communities committee meeting, Commissioner @chrisniccy.bsky.social welcomes the news that a draft anti-poverty strategy has been agreed. However he has concerns whether it will consider a 'life-cycle approach' recommended by the Anti-Poverty Strategy Group 🔎📜

We welcome the news that the anti-poverty strategy will be agreed on today. Let's see if it honours the commitment to helping one in four children out of poverty 🔍📜

We had a great day in Ballymena yesterday.

Can’t wait to go back! ☺️

2/2 The Commissioner, Chris Quinn, and his team talked to the pupils about their rights and the work of the NICCY office.

The sun made it all the better 🌞 🙌🏻

1/2 Another great day on the @LibrariesNI For Every Child, Every Right Tour in Ballymena.

We had pupils from Dunclug PS, Carniny PS, Camphill PS, Braidside IPS, St Colmcille’s, St Brigid’s, St Louis, , Ballymena Academy and St Patrick’s College.

2/2 The Commissioner and Siobhan also talked about the Emergency Department at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and working together to improve mental health services for our children! 💙

Chris Quinn and Siobhan O Neill standing for a photograph

1/2 Today, the Commissioner met with Mental Health Champion, Professor Siobhan O’Neill, to discuss important updates on our Still Waiting report, CAMHS data, the rollout of 'Right Care, Right Person,' and the latest on the Mental Health Strategy.

Commissioner @chrisniccy.bsky.social was delighted to speak at the @wrda-team.bsky.social ‘Supporting Women, Reducing Stigma’ event today as part of #MaternalMentalHealthMonth.

Hear Chris' call for the progression of a Mother and Baby Unit in Northern Ireland.
#SupportingWomenReducingStigma.

This is a photo of Commissioner Chris Quinn standing beside Clare Anderson, Maternal Advocacy & Support Project Coordinator for the Women's Resource & Development Agency. There is a purple banner behind them with the words The Mas Project on the top right hand corner.

This is a photo of Commissioner Chris Quinn standing in a row with participants and staff from The Mas Project.

Commissioner @chrisniccy.bsky.social commented: "The @wrda-team.bsky.social Mas project and other community initiatives show how self-advocacy, continuity of care, and compassionate, culturally aware support empowers women and protects children."
#MasMatter #SupportingWomenReducingStigma

Thank you for inviting @chrisniccy.bsky.social to share his support of the @wrda-team.bsky.social Mas Project. It was inspiring to see women looking out for each other while navigating motherhood and mental health problems.

Two women standing in front of a screen.

Grainne Beattie, Midwife, and Grace Kelly, psychologist talk about their work on the Perinatal Mental Health Specialist Team.

Hannah Brown standing in front of a screen saying "what is Think Family".

Hannah Brown from Think Family introduces the concept of Think Family, which is a regional approach to working with parents. "Just because you have a mental illness does not mean you are not a fantastic parent"

Chris finishes by saying "struggling is not shameful but being unsupported is"

Chris Quinn speaking from a podium.

Chris Quinn, NI Commissioner for children and young people, reflects on the care burden shouldered by mothers and the fundamentally essential nature of the services provided by the Community and Voluntary sector

Jennifer Wright standing in front of a presentation.

Jennifer Wright discusses the need for the Young Mums Mas project and outlines the achievements of the project.

Clare in front of a slide of campaigning images.

Clare discusses the outcomes of the project and the lobbying work of Mas including campaigning for a Mother and Baby Unit.

Clare Anderson speaking from a podium

Clare Anderson, coordinator of our Mas Project, discusses the need to reduce stigma around maternal mental health. She outlines how the Mas model provides women with a toolkit to support themselves.

Commissioner @chrisniccy.bsky.social added:"Too often women struggle to share their thoughts as they fear that their baby will be taken away."

"It's a right to protect women's mental health from the start of their pregnancy to post-natal care to ensure mothers and babies stay together."