NORTHERN IRELAND: Homeless unit joins Foyer Federation

Nine Phab NI independent living centres are joining the Foyer Federation, bringing the number of Foyers in Northern Ireland up to 13. Phab NI's three Belfast centres, plus others in Ballymena, Bangor, Derry, Enniskillen, Lisburn and Newry will come under the Foyer umbrella by next January. A fourth Belfast centre, currently under construction, is likely to follow suit.

Phab NI is undergoing Foyer's accreditation process, but both sides are confident the centres will be accepted. Trevor Boyle, chief executive of Phab NI, said: "The move means we don't have to worry about fundraising. It will help us move away from the medical model of disability work."

Boyle added that the concept behind Phab NI's centres was close to the Foyer model, although they lacked facilities such as on-site cafes or training rooms.

Pat McAllister, head of network services at the Foyer Federation, said more centres would be a major boost. "This will help increase the visibility of Foyers in Northern Ireland," she added.

Separately, the Foyer Federation and inner-city youth charity Fairbridge have devised a software tool called SpiritLevel to help youth organisations measure "soft outcomes". Contact Kate Stobbs on 07956 130349.