Hopedene Hostel opened in 1943 for mothers and their babies and was located at 55 Dundela Avenue in East Belfast. A nursery was operated on site so that mothers could return to work. The institution had a Protestant non-denominational ethos and was managed by an elected committee with representatives from the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church, the Methodist Church and the Salvation Army among its members. In 1950, Hopedene Hostel registered as a voluntary children’s institution and was closely associated with the Church of Ireland Adoption Society. It closed in 1985. The figures available record 670 women and girls entering Hopedene Hostel between 1943 - 1985. 

What Records Exist and What Do They Contain?

The Hopedene Hostel records do not contain as much information as some of the other Mother and Baby institutions about the women and girls who were placed there. Entrance registers are only available between 1950 - 1968 and contain personal details and medical information for women and girls. They also record the date of hospital admission, the date of the baby’s birth and where mother and child went to after leaving Hopedene. Other records of the Church of Ireland Moral Welfare Association identify women who were transferred to Hopedene Hostel for the periods 1943 - 1950 and 1968 - 1985.

To What Period Do the Records Relate?

Most of the records relate to 1950 - 1968 and 1983 - 1985. 

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 from Hopedene Hostel or through the Church of Ireland Moral Welfare Association or the Church of Ireland Adoption Society 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 Hopedene Hostel can be accessed by submitting a Subject Access Request under UK GDPR for personal information held about the requester. 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