have your say

We would love to hear your thoughts about The Big House. It may be your experience, an idea, a useful contact, - whatever you can tell us which may be helpful please click here to let us know. Thanks!

Prayer Support

Keep up to date with all that's happening in The Big House and pray for us in an informed way. Click here to sign up for our monthly Prayer Bulletin, Quarterly Big House Update, or to attend a Prayer Group near you.

Financial Support

If you would like to support The Big House through a regular gift or increase the value of your giving, you can download a Standing Order and Gift Aid form by clicking here. To read more about supporting The Big House financially, click here.
Big House News
CCPAS Membership
We are committed to taking the best possible care of the young people for whom we are responsible. One of the most important aspects of caring for young people in today's context is an effective Child Protection Policy. To help us to develop a policy which is in line with current best practice and to give us access to expert advice, The Big House has become a member of the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS).
 
New Board Members
But not "boring members", no - this is exciting news! We're delighted to welcome Kathryn Harte and Mark Charles on board. Kathryn is the Camps and Missions Co-ordinator for Scripture Union NI and joins us on their behalf. Mark Charles is currently training for the ministry; he has broad experience of inner city youth work both in Northern Ireland and the USA. Together they bring a wealth of knowledge and experience of hands on youth work and are a very valuable addition to our board.
 
CCI Associate Membership

We're very grateful to a number of people who have pointed us in the direction of Christian Camping International (CCI), a wonderfully helpful group of people! So helpful that we have signed up as Associate Members in order to get the benefit of some of their excellent resources relating to running a residential centre. CCI describes itself as "an association of Christian centres, organisations and individuals involved in camps, holidays, conference and outdoor activity ministries ... your 'one stop shop' to all your residential holiday and group needs."
 
Meetings and Visits

One of the joys of not having a Belfast office is that we often have to meet up with people in cafés, shucks! To date we have met with staff from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland's (PCI) Youth & Children's Board, the Church of Ireland's Youth Department, Methodist Youth and Scripture Union. Everyone we have met has been very positive about The Big House vision, reinforcing the need for such a resource whilst recognising the big challenges that lie ahead. 

We have been privileged to visit PCI's Guysmere residential centre and Cancer Fund for Children's Narnia Centre. Our thanks to the staff who welcomed us so warmly and answered our seemingly endless questions very patiently!

Our plans for the near future include meeting with Youth Com and visiting Barretstown in Dublin.

 
We are a Company!

The Big House (Ireland) is now a company limited by guarantee, registered in Northern Ireland. Thanks to our legal beagles for all their help in making this happen.

Next stop ... charitable status! Please pray that the Inland Revenue will consider us worthy of charitable status and let us know the result of our application soon.