Family support groups unite to help parents in Limerick

Barnardos and a number of family support groups in Limerick have joined forces to help parents cope with day-to-day chores in running the home in a first of its kind, joint-agency approach.

Up to 80 families in the city will benefit from the new service in the coming year.

The Parenting Limerick organisation and Barnardos Homemaker Family Support Service have drawn up an assistance programme to help parents with matters such as getting children ready for school, dropping them off at school, buying the groceries, cooking meals and helping with the family budget. The service will be home-orientated.

Maura McDonnell, Barnardos homemaker service co-ordinator said: “Already we have lots of interest from parents. Sometimes families need a little help to get over a hump. Other times parents may feel overwhelmed and a little help can made a big difference. We recognise that families need support outside the standard 9am to 5pm hours and we plan our work to support them at the times they need practical support most.”

She said one of the aims of the new service was to build parents’ confidence.

Fergus Finlay, CEO of Barnardos said: “In a time of closures and cuts, I am delighted that Limerick City Children’s Services Committee has prioritised a programme of parenting support and that funding has been made available by Tulsa, the Child and Family Agency.

Launching the service, former governor of Mountjoy prison John Lonergan said: “The focus of the supports launched today is to ensure better outcomes for children and families living in Limerick and that children have positive childhood experiences with their families.” Mr Lonergan said bringing up a family can be hard and everybody needed support at some point.

Limerick City Child Services Committee chairman Tim Hanly said that Parenting Limerick and Homemaker Family Support Services were fine examples of agencies working together.

* Parents can contact Barnardos directly about the service on 061 493588. Referrals are also accepted from professionals with the consent of parents.