Local ChampionsWe work to change the lives of those who need it most.

Learn MoreAbout Our Vision

The work of our organisation is aimed at targeted assistance to men in the form of accommodation and shelter. This much needed facility accepts homeless men aged between 18 and 65 years old from all over Northern Ireland. We are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as clients are deemed at risk, many clients not only have addiction and mental health issues but some also suffer from the dual diagnosis of having both mental health and addiction issues.

Support

The Lighthouse Hostel advocates a client lead support process with consistent reviews and risk assessments.

Education

The Lighthouse Hostel helps provide information, education, and support on substance abuse and wider qualifications for men.

Contactable

The Lighthouse Hostel key workers are always on hand to help with our clients for all aspects of their lives.

Volunteering

The lIghthouse Hostel relies on our great staff and our volunteers who give up their time for our clients.

Last Year
We supported over 200
men in the local community.

FAQSee our answers to our most common questions.

The Lighthouse can only accept referrals from the NIHE in any area of Northern Ireland. Once a client presents as homeless to the NIHE they will be assessed to see if they meet the requirements for referral to the Lighthouse. The Lighthouse will then complete a thorough risk assessment of the client to ensure they will benefit from the service and support we can provide them. The Lighthouse will not take schedule one sex offenders or clients with Arson charges.

Clients are free to come and go as they please but must be in by 12.00 on weekdays and 01.00 on Friday and Saturdays. There are structured training programmes on within the hostel and we also advise clients on external services and programmes available to them. The clients’ Key workers will meet with them to aid, give support and advise when and where they can. Clients pay a weekly service charge which covers three meals a day, laundry, heating and all-day coffee and tea. We also organise social nights like movie or games nights to help relationship and build confidence.

It is imperative that the Lighthouse Hostel remains a clean and safe place for all its clients, staff and local community. As a place with multiple clients, the utmost care and respect must be given to the guidelines, policies and procedures of the hostel which are there only to help keep everyone safe. The Lighthouse does work with clients who have addictions (including intravenous drug users) and mental health issues and therefore all clients continually have risk assessments completed.

The success of the Lighthouse Hostel is largely due to the professional relationships we have with our clients. As part of each client’s exit strategy staff will work with clients to ensure they have the correct and a positive application and the correct number of points for social housing. We will also give guidance on private rentals and tenancy agreements. Should the client need wrap around services such as floating support we will also help them to make a referral for these services to ensure they are fully support once they leave the hostel.

Clients are referred to the Lighthouse Hostel primarily because they are homeless but also because they require help in one or more areas of their lives. As such all clients must participate in their own individual client lead support plans with one of their key workers on a consistent basis. Clients are also responsible for paying a weekly service charge towards their three daily meals, electricity, water and laundry.

NIHE Excellence in Homelessness AwardCheck out the video.

Lighthouse HostelOur Partners

As part of the food programme the Lighthouse Hostel works in partnership with Fareshare, and Tesco’s, Sainsburys and M&S through the Neighbourly project.

Our StaffMeet our amazing staff.

Any Hostel is only as successful as the people that work and volunteer there. Here are a few of the fantastic people you might encounter in The Lighthouse Hostel, Ballymena.

Mark Forsythe

Managing Director

Mark Forsythe

Managing Director

Mark Forsythe

Managing Director

Our WorkSuccessful Initiatives.

The Lighthouse Hostel continues to be a major player in the voluntary and community sector. Having won the Excellence in Homeless Service and Support Award for “Outstanding dedication and contribution to ending Homelessness in Northern Ireland” for their work in the ICARE centre.

The Lighthouse Hostel have also played major roles in sitting as vice chair within ECHO (Enhancing Care for those who are Homelessness) which is a multi-disciplinary service consisting of NHSCT, PHA, PBNI, NIHE, CMHT, Community Addictions, GP surgery, Learning Difficulty, Women’s Aid to name a few.

The GP registration Scheme for homeless providers within the Ballymena area which ensures clients are registered with GP’s quickly and efficiently.

Medicines Management Training – Set up with EXTERN and Ballee Pharmacy to train hostel staff on the medications that homeless clients use, side effects and rational for behaviour while taking such medication.

Discharge Protocol. Programme and funding to look at the discharge of patients who have no abode from Antrim Area Hospital ward, A&E and Hollywell Hospital along with NIHE.

Full Time Staff & Volunteers

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Male Beds

Sponsor the Lighthouse Hostel

Local ChampionsWe work to change the lives of those who need it most.

Learn MoreAbout Our Vision

Support

Education

Contactable

Volunteering

Last YearWe supported over 200 men in the local community.

FAQSee our answers to our most common questions.

NIHE Excellence in Homelessness AwardCheck out the video.

Lighthouse HostelOur Partners

Our StaffMeet our amazing staff.

Mark Forsythe

Mark Forsythe

Mark Forsythe

Our WorkSuccessful Initiatives.

Last Year
We supported over 200
men in the local community.