Northern Ireland Childminding Association
# Northern Ireland Childminding Association

The Northern Ireland Childminding Association (NICMA) is a charity and membership organisation, based in Belfast, that represents childminding in Northern Ireland. It promotes quality home-based childcare and learning for the benefit of children, families and communities in Northern Ireland and its services include a childminding information and vacancy helpline.

NICMA's chair is Norma Shearer and its chief executive is Patricia Lewsley-Mooney CBE.

NICMA is currently running a pilot scheme to address the shortage of childcare places in rural areas. This is funded by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's Rural Childcare Programme.

