HONEYCOMB - Connecting the impact of Financial hardship to Mental Health

Join us for HONEYCOMB - A Hive of Integrated Support, a half-day conference hosted by Sarah Travers, bringing together professionals from across the statutory, community and voluntary sectors to explore how we can deliver truly integrated support for people in crisis.

Communities across Northern Ireland are facing growing challenges linked to financial hardship, poor mental health, domestic abuse and food insecurity. This conference will shine a light on integrated frontline, community-based support models, particularly those embedded in foodbanks, social supermarkets and other trusted local spaces.

What to Expect:

• Insightful talks from leading frontline organisations and services
• Real-life examples of co-located support in action
• Discussion on the connection between debt, mental health and policy
• Opportunities to connect, reflect and build cross-sector partnerships
• Complimentary lunch and networking

Key Speakers Include:

• PSNI Predatory Lending Team - Tackling illegal lending at its root protects the most vulnerable - breaking cycles of fear, exploitation and financial control in our communities.
• Women’s Aid – Shining a light on financial abuse and coercive control - empowering survivors with support, safety and a path to independence.
• Dunlewey Addiction Services – Addresses the deep connection between addiction, debt and mental health - offering compassionate support to break the cycle and rebuild lives of both the individual and families.
• SHSCT Primary Mental Health Services - First-hand accounts of how debt and financial pressure are driving distress - real lives impacted by rising costs, anxiety and hopelessness. Their frontline work highlights the urgent need for early, joined-up support.
• Community Advice ABC – Debt is overwhelming lives in our communities - fueling anxiety, shame and crisis. Alongside our frontline work, we’re also capturing vital research through the DMHEF to evidence this impact and drive policy change that responds with compassion, not complexity.
• Money Ready – Financial education in schools. Equipping children with financial education early, Money Ready helps break cycles of hardship - laying the foundation for informed, resilient futures.
• Wraparound Care – Foodbanks and social supermarkets are more than emergency support, they’re trusted spaces where people in crisis seek help. By embedding wraparound care and advice services in these settings, we meet people where they are, offering dignity, connection and real pathways out of hardship.
• Closing Reflections – Professor Siobhán O’Neill, Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland

Who Should Attend:

Ideal for professionals working in:

• General Practitioners (GPs)
• Primary and Community Healthcare Professionals
• Mental Health Practitioners
• Addiction Support Workers
• Social Workers
• Advice and Debt Support Advisors
• Community Development Officers
• Domestic Abuse and Safeguarding Practitioners
• Public Health Officials
• Policy and Strategy Leads (Health, Finance, Communities)
• Teachers and School Support Staff
• Youth and Family Support Workers
• Local Government Officers and Councillors
• Foodbank and Social Supermarket Coordinators
• Voluntary and Community Sector Leaders
• Housing Officers and Homelessness Support Teams
• Police and Justice Sector Professionals
• Faith-Based and Charitable Organisation Staff

🎟️ Spaces are limited – register early to secure your place.We look forward to welcoming you to this energising and purposeful event focused on collaboration, community and care.