PHILIP MCTAGGART  PIPS CHAIR-PERSON

Philip McTaggart  (Chair-Person) Tel: 02890 755070 Email: philip@pipsproject.com PIPS was started in 2003 by Philip McTaggart, following the suicide of his son, Pip. Philip discovered there was little or no support for his family, and they found themselves offering what help they could to other affected families. Over a two month period in 2004, 13 young men in Philip’s community took their own lives. Philip met with the North Belfast Partnership to explain how families needed urgent support as they struggled to cope with highly stigmatized bereavement. Together they approached training provider Stakeholder Development, who specialise in developing capacity within community organisations.   They designed a publicly-funded training programme whose over-riding aim was to save lives by providing distressed individuals with support. The programme provided a clear vision and action plan for 20 members of PIPS, helping them to manage and improve the support. Part of the strategy that emerged from this, was to create Neighbourhood Response Teams.  It has provided training for 208 community volunteers in how to support bereaved families using ASIST – applied suicide intervention skills training.  The programme also helped PIPS to mentor and supervise the volunteers.