Family Carers Ireland launch a new Support Group in Limerick

Pictured at City Hall for the launch of Family Carers Ireland’s new support group. Pictured are Fianait Mitchell and Victoria Ward, family carer support officers, Cllr Daniel Butler, Mayor of the Metropolitan District of Limerick, and John Dunne, CEO of Family Carers Ireland. Picture: Baoyan Zhang/ilovelimerick

Family Carers Ireland launch a new Support Group in Limerick

By ilovelimerick Correspondent Cathal Doherty

Family Carers Ireland in conjunction with the Metropolitan Mayor of Limerick, Daniel Butler, today launched a new Support Group for Family Carers providing care to children. The launch which took place at Limerick City Hall is focused on providing a range of supports and services to Family Carers, with a strong emphasis on the development of a peer-led support group. The launch was attended by Mayor Daniel Butler, John Dunne, CEO of Family Carers Ireland and a number of Family Carers caring for children.

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Through interaction with Carers throughout Limerick, and through speaking with Family Carers at their local office at Unit 3, Georges Quay House, Limerick, Victoria Ward (Family Carer Support Officer) recognised that the needs of carers of children can often differ greatly from the needs of a carers caring for an adult. On foot of this and in collaboration with the Metropolitan Mayor, Daniel Butler, a new support group was developed, tailored specifically to the needs of Family Carers caring for a child.

“Carers who are parents don’t often see themselves as carers. They see themselves as parents. If you’re taking care of an older person in your family you will usually have brothers or sisters to help you out but when it’s your own child you don’t have that as much,” said Metropolitan Mayor of Limerick Daniel Butler.

Family Carers Ireland facilitate support groups nationally and have discovered that peer support is vital for these carers. The sense of belonging a carer feels when they can share their experiences with people in a similar role facilitates carers to become more empowered, more knowledgeable, of supports and services and to feel less isolated and alone. Through workshops and classes decided by the carers, the new support group hopes to create an environment where a sense of fun can also be introduced to the lives of those caring for children.

“The idea of this group is to try and target them and support them because they are very vulnerable to depressions and anxieties and different things and it’s isolating. Hopefully, with parents learning to support themselves the outcome will be better for their kids as well,” said Mayor Daniel Butler.

Family Carers Ireland are dedicated to supporting the needs of Family Carers in Limerick and nationally and will facilitate the development of new groups, as identified by Carers.

The first meeting of the new Support Group for Family Carers caring for children is on Wednesday, 26 September 2018 at 10:30 am in the offices of Limerick City and County Council. The Group will then meet on the last Wednesday of each month at 10:30 am in the Family Carers Limerick Ireland Office, Unit 3, George’s Quay House, Limerick.

For more information on Family Carers Ireland, click here

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