Limerick lifeline to families in recession

FOUR organisations in Limerick that are actively helping families hit by the loss of employment or reductions in household incomes, are the Family Resource Centres in South, St Munchin’s Parish, Croom and Hospital. Personnel from these four Family Resource Centres recently attended a recent launch of the National Forum annual report in Dublin. The Family Resource Centres (FRCs) provide after-school clubs, arts programmes and parent and toddler groups, which are proving to be crucial initiatives in helping to ease pressure on families as the recession deepens.

At a recent political briefing event in Dublin, the Limerick representatives briefed TDs and Senators about their work and the impact of Family Resource Centres overall.
Jimmy Prior (Southill FRC), Noreen Meagher (Hospital FRC) and Martha Potter (Hospital FRC), represented Limerick.   The chairperson of the FRCNF, Packie Kelly, said: “Ireland’s network of Family Resource Centres has been actively building up a range of initiatives that enable families to stay in touch and feel supported through difficult periods.  We have found that after-school clubs and arts programmes, for instance, are excellent ways of reaching out to families who are not otherwise engaged in community activity.
“These interventions might seem quite trivial but they allow us to connect with families and build trust, and through such interventions we can help prevent some of the crisis scenarios that break families down and leave them without coping mechanisms”.
The FRCNF annual report highlighted some changes in the individuals and groups that typically access services. 
“We are now seeing more men at our centres; a growing proportion of older people and a notable increase in the number of two-parent families that are using our services.  While we continue to see lots of lone parents and women, as a proportion, attendance for services by these groups is dropping,” said Mr Kelly.