From 1911, the Church of Ireland Rescue League ran an institution at 133 Crumlin Road in Belfast, which provided some accommodation for mothers. The institution was renamed Kennedy House in 1947 and operated in conjunction with the Church of Ireland Moral Welfare Association. It moved to larger premises at 8 Cliftonville Avenue, Belfast, in 1949 and closed in 1956. However, until the 1980's, the Church of Ireland Moral Welfare Association continued to locate foster mothers, arrange adoptions, locate places in other mother and baby institutions or find employment for mothers. 

What Records Exist and What Do They Contain?

Records for both the earlier institution on Crumlin Road and Kennedy House are extremely limited. The records available for Kennedy House are from 1950 - 1955. They consist of an admission register which recorded the name of each woman or girl entering the institution, her address, her religion, the date she was admitted / date discharged and where the mother and baby went upon leaving the institution.

To What Period Do the Records Relate?

The surviving records relate only to the period 1950 - 1955. 

Who Is the Controller of the Records?

The records are controlled by Adoption Routes.

How Best Can the Records Be Accessed?

Records Relating to Adoption

Adoption related records held by Adoption Routes relating to adoptions of children from Kennedy House can be accessed by making an application under the Adoption Agencies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1989. 

If an individual is seeking a copy of the personal data held about them in adoption records, they can also make a Subject Access Request under the UK GDPR. 

Personal Records

Other personal records held by Adoption Routes relating to Kennedy House can be accessed by submitting a Subject Access Request under the UK GDPR for personal information held about the requestor. For details of how to make such an application please refer to the guidance on our Accessing Records and Your Rights page. 

Contacting Adoption Routes

It is recommended that all communication with Adoption Routes should be in writing and copies of correspondence should be kept. The contact details for Adoption Routes are as follows: 

Ms Lynda Wilson,

CEO,

Adoptions Routes,

Ground Floor,

Unit 2, 18 Heron Road,

Belfast, 

BT3 9LE

Email: info@adoptionroutes.co.uk