LIMERICK Island Community Partnership (LICP) is one of 10 new childcare and family resource centres (FRC) to receive a funding boost as part of the National Family Resource Centre Programme.
The centre, which has served the St Mary’s Parish and King’s Island community for over 25 years, will now be designated the status of an FRC and receive a minimum funding of €180,000 per year.
It also means the centre will now function as part of a national programme backed by Tusla, and will provide access to the National Forum of Family Resource Centre’s for training and policy assistance.
The funding will help to expand existing services across parenting support and courses, information and advice clinics, counselling and family support work, and education and training opportunities.
Limerick Island Community Partners manager John O’Sullivan said the designation “secures the long-term future of the organisation as a vital hub for family and community support in the historic district of Limerick City.”
“The organisation is soon to amalgamate with St Mary’s Adult Education Group, which means the delivery of education in King’s Island and the local Community Employment Scheme will now come under the banner of Limerick Island Community Partners, who will now be the one stop shop for community development in Kings Island.”
The expansion increases the number of FRCs established across the country from 126 to 136.
The addition of the new FRCs followed a comprehensive national application and assessment process was undertaken in relation to proposed new FRCs.