Northside Family Resource Centre is located in the heart of Ballynanty and caters for the Northside of Limerick City. With the downturn in the economy and an aging population we no longer just serve Moyross, Ballynanty, Kileely and Thomondgate but due to demand we now cover Shelbourne and Ennis Road, Farranshone, Caherdavin, Woodview, Red Gate and anywhere else demand exists and a service does not. The type of services provided by the Family Resource Centre are summarised as follows:
2. Childcare Centre catering for children aged between 3 months to 5 years. Sunshine Crèche has a fully qualified team of staff providing high quality care and education to any child in need of provision. In addition we offer the free pre-school year in our Montessori room or, if parents prefer, we have a pre-school room that implements a play based curriculum. The national standards and curriculum of Síolta and Aistear have been successfully implemented and each age group is exposed to the practices and principles of the Incredible Years programme (http://www.incredibleyears.com). Any parent and/or child who identifies as having additional needs is offered a referral to the Family Support Team so access to additional supports is always to hand.
3. Firstly, we have a volunteer mentoring programme for primary school children who have been identified as being at risk. Children are matched with a trained volunteer who mentors them through much of primary school. They spend an hour receiving one-to-one support from that mentor, are giving a home cooked dinner and participate in an activity anything from art to sports. The homework club is an affordable activity where children, from any part of Limerick’s Northside, receive homework support in a group session from a volunteer primary school teacher, a home cooked dinner and an activity all for a subsidised rate (Currently €5 a day).
4. Youth Work Services cater for children aged 10 years to 21 years. This service varies providing universal supports such as the Go4IT Programme (a third level access programme); dance; music; art as well as personal development Groups such as the Thursday and Friday Girls who are provided with a safe space to talk about family, friends, sex, drugs etc. Additional supports are giving to young people identified as being at risk where they are supported to access formal education and to eventually participate in universal provision.
5. Family Support Services include parenting programmes like the Incredible Years and Strengthening Families Programmes as well as one-to-one support for families who are experiencing difficulties. Issues can range from financial difficulties, bereavement to more higher level supports in the instance of child protection. Parents are met in a safe non-judgemental space and a family support plan is shaped around their strengths and needs. An important facet of family support includes community education and clubs and groups where parents are supported to become socially active whether it is Pilates, yoga, knitting, women’s group, baby massage etc. We take an holistic approach to family support where all facets of a family’s life is taken into account. These services are open to any family living on Limerick’s Northside.
6. We provide an affordable Counselling service by fully qualified counsellors. The service is available to anyone from the Northside of Limerick City from the ages 14 years and over.
7. Services for Older People are for people aged 65 years and over or 55 years with a disability and these services are exceptionally well developed. We won 2012 Pride of Place Award for our services to Older People and they are outlined as follows:
1. Meals on Wheels
2. Friendly Call Service (a phone call made at the same time each week to check-in with Older People who may have little contact with others)
3. Security Grants (panic buttons and personal alarms)
4. Affordable Transport Service (runs to collect pension, weekly shop, GP, visit friends and relatives in hospital, hospital appointments etc). It is €1 per journey.
5. Light housekeeping service
6. Home maintenance service and care and repair to perform maintenance tasks like handrails, light plumbing, painting, gardening etc.
7. Advocacy and advice including accompanying older people to appointments, liaising with statutory organisations etc.
8. Clubs and Groups to support social contact (including the ‘Men’s Shed’, Women’s Group, Ballynanty Group and Thomondgate Group)
