LIMERICK’S only support group to assist those experiencing the trauma of separation has undergone a change of name to incorporate demand from a broader section of the community. Originally set up as MILES (Men in Limerick Experiencing Separation) in 2003, the group has now been rebranded under the name FAMILIES due to an increasing number of women and children seeking its assistance.
“We are still specialising in supporting men, but more and more we are also dealing with women and children”, long-standing volunteer and board member Seamus Scott told the Limerick Post.
“We encourage separating couples to come to us individually initially and they can come together down the line if they wish to.
“We always had children at the centre and we are working on getting the finance to develop a garden and additional facilities for children”.
Seamus explained that, while the volunteers at FAMILIES are not trained counsellors, those in need are pointed in the direction of other services that do offer such counselling facilities.
“Our approach is to make the process of separation less acrimonious and we offer advice on legal routes and counselling, so we do the ground work for couples who have much more on their minds”.
Confirming that the emphasis would continue to be on assisting men as there are few such services for them, while there are many for women, he added:
“Women are great for networking and talking about things, men aren’t and that contributes to the high rate of suicide”.
The charity also helps children to deal with their issues in relation to arguing parents and the breakdown of relationships.
“These men want the best for their kids and want to learn how to help them get through it,” he said..
FAMILIES covers all of Munster and has outreach days in which it visits various towns and villages across the province to raise awareness of their services.
A registered charity, it is funded privately and tied into the Paul Partnership.
FAMILIES also interacts with other groups in Limerick such as Pieta House and The Men’s Sheds group.
The group has taken on a new three story premises at 46 Wolf Tone Street and hopes to open Ireland’s first emergency accommodation facility for separated men on the top floor, once funding has been secured.
FAMILIES hosts two meetings every week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8pm. Anyone seeking their help can call or drop in to the office, where the service is provided free of charge.
In May, FAMILIES is hosting a national conference in Limerick that will focus on all aspects of family breakdown and its subsequent problems. It will feature a number of national and international experts in the field and is supported by Phil Prendergast, Labour MEP. More details will be forthcoming shortly.
