• Join Mailing List
• Search
• Home

• About Us
• Helpline
• Projects
• Volunteering
• Useful Links
• News
• Contact Us

• About Us

• Types of work

• Background

• Vision

• Mission

• Aims

• Values

• Governance...

• Structure of PAC
• Legal status
• Organisational chart

• Staff

• Finance ...

• Donations and Gift Aid

• Branch Offices ...

• Ballymena
• Belfast
• Derry
• Dungannon

• Statistics on PAC's service

• Quality assurance

• PAC publications

• Annual reports

• Job vacancies

You are in: Home > About Us > Background

Background

Following the much publicised case in the early 1970s of Maria Colwell (a six year old girl who was murdered by her stepfather), helplines were established in England as a support to families under stress.

In 1979, the International Year of the Child Committee in Northern Ireland established Parents Advice Centre (PAC) in Belfast. This was to be a one year pilot scheme to provide similar support to families here. The up-take of this service demonstrated the need to maintain and develop this initiative further.

Since that time, the organisation has expanded. Due to increased demand, new offices were opened in Derry (1992), Dungannon (1994) and Ballymena (1997) - giving PAC a presence in all four Health and Social Service Board areas.