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South West Wexford Family Resource Centre (SWWFRC)

Press Release,

       SWWFRC Public Awareness Event

On Tuesday September 18^th 2018 South West Wexford Family Resource Centre (SWWFRC) will host a public awareness event to highlight the work of SWWFRC in supporting localised family supports and services to the community of South West Wexford.

The aim of the event is to proactively inform children and parents about SWWFRC’s services, supported through funding from TUSLA under the high quality Family Resource Centre Programme. We hope that highlighting our services will result in an increased awareness of available family supports at SWWFRC and that there is subsequent take up of these services ensuring less families fall through systematic gaps in service provision and that families and children are safe from harm.

Our Family Support Services are for families and individuals who need help. Family life is not always easy . Life events like birth, death, depression, redundancy , separation , illness abuse or financial problems all put stress and strain on family life and relationships. Our family support services can help . Simply having someone to talk to about your problems can be the easiest way to begin to deal with your problem . Your concerns can be dealt with in confidence by our trained personnel who will give the appropriate support , advice and help.

Currently family support work @ SWWFRC addresses the needs of local families in supporting them to access childcare facilities and supports, community based youth work, provision of facilities and services for young people, local community services, counselling, sign-posting for information and delivery of education and training services locally and affordably in their own community @ The Ramsgrange Centre.

The Public Awareness Event which is taking place in The Ramsgrange Centre, Ramsgrange, New Ross, Co Wexford  will run from 10am-4.30pm. The focus of the event builds on the idea of the TUSLA Public Awareness Week (PAW) Sept 17th-23^rd 2018 but ours aims to be a more local affair, bringing together a variety of activities and information stands inviting parent and child participation.

Talks for Parents and Community Members on the day will be from Jackie Crowley, (Personal Trainer/ Nutritionist and Health Coach) . Jackie will speak at 10.15am – 11.15am  on the 18^th in our Therapy Room on “How to Boost the Immune System coming into the Winter Months”.

In the afternoon we are also pleased to welcome Sally T. Griffiths , Centre Manager of Pieta House, Francis Street in Wexford. Sally will speak to community members in our Therapy Room at 3.30pm – 4.30pm on the services at Pieta House , its location an facilities , what they do and how they can work with and also to answer any questions people might have on services.

TUSLA Staff will also attend our Information Stand Area providing information on their range of professional and highly effective solutions for family support, as part of their Prevention Partnership and Family Support Programme (PPFS). The Prevention, Partnership and Family Support (PPFS) Programme is a comprehensive programme of early intervention and preventative work which has been undertaken by Tusla as the best way to improve outcomes for children to resolve problems and prevent harm.

Other information stands will include up to date information on the range of Training courses being offered by our Education and Training Department (REaD) from September ; information on The Glor Project which is a TUSLA funded Initiative to work with Young People through one to one interventions and developmental group which will bring sustainable improvements for them, their families and the communities in which they live.  Our Family Support Worker Denise Farrell will also be available on the day to talk with Parents and Families on our range of supports in including “Home Care Management”, “Budgeting and Family Finance “ and “Parenting Skills”.

In our main activity room from 10am -1pm we will host a “Bake and Book Sale” in aid of counselling Services @ SWWFRC alongside a coffee morning in our local community Café for all to enjoy. This event will organised with support from the ladies in our St Louis Stitchers Group and the Shelbourne Women’s group, The Parents of the Ramsgrange Parent and Toddler Group and parents using Sugradh Childcare Centre and we would like to thank them all in advance for this support. All other Donations Welcome also from the community however and can be dropped into The Ramsgrange Centre before next Tuesday!!!!

Children from the local Primary School and in the SWWFRC Sugradh Childcare Centre will be treated to a Free Face Painting session by local community artist Johanna Brady and Johanna will also deliver an art session to local primary school children on this morning. For older youth our Fusion Youth Café will welcome the Transition Year Students from The Ramsgrange Community School to a 2 hour “hang out time “ session where they can enjoy games of darts, pool table tennis, play station and refreshments.

So gather some family or friends, take a trip up to see us @ SWWFRC and see what we have available here for you and your family. Buy some cakes , have a cuppa, enjoy a book , get dunking and support our local fundraising  and hopefully on the day you can get familiar with our services and supports by meeting our staff whilst enjoying that refreshing morning cuppa with friends and family.

END

VACANCIES

SWWFRC currently has vacancies on our community employment scheme for 2 youth workers to work @ Fusion Youth Cafe and assist our family support services.

The crieria for qualifying for this scheme are based on age and length of time in receipt of various social welfare payments.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/…/community_employment_sc…

Please contact reception@swwfrc.ie for an application form if you are interested in these positions.

WHAT IS YOUTH WORK ?

Youth work has been enhancing the lives of young people and adults in Ireland for more than 100 years. It was given formal statutory recognition in the Youth Work Act 2001, which defines youth work as:

A planned programme of education designed for the purpose of aiding and enhancing the personal and social development of young people through their voluntary involvement, and which is complementary to their formal, academic or vocational education and training and provided primarily by voluntary youth work organisations.

Youth work is above all an educational and developmental process, based on young people’s active and voluntary participation and commitment. It is often defined as ‘non-formal education’. Youth work is for all young people, with particular focus on those aged 10 to 25 from all aspects of Irish life, urban, rural, all nationalities and social classes. Youth work is provided primarily by voluntary organisations, with statutory support from the Department of Education and Skills and the Education and Training Boards.

Our vision is for all of our young people to have ambition for themselves, to be confident individuals, effective contributors, successful learners and responsible citizens; and to be nurtured, safe, active, healthy, achieving, included, respected and responsible. We believe that youth work has a significant role to play in realising this vision for young people.

The purpose of youth work:
•To build young people’s self-esteem and self-confidence;
•To develop their ability to manage personal and social relationships;
•To offer worthwhile and challenging new experiences;
•To provide learning opportunities to enable young people to gain knowledge and develop new skills;
•To build young people’s capacity to consider risks and consequences and make informed decisions and take responsibility;
•To help young people to develop social awareness and a sense of social solidarity;
•To give young people a voice in decision-making which affect their lives;
•To enhance young people’s role as active citizens;
•To listen to and hear what young people have to say.

How does it happen?

With a focus on process in which the active and critical participation of young people is essential, the methods adopted and the programmes and activities engaged in by youth workers and young people are very diverse, including:
•Recreation, sport and indoor/outdoor pursuits
•Arts and culture, including drama and the Irish Language
•Citizenship, social action, youth participation, rights and equality issues, the environment, development education and politics
•Welfare and well-being including health promotion, relationships and sexuality, stress management, first aid, drugs, alcohol and smoking
•Life skills, such as leadership, teamwork, planning and decision making, communication, problem solving, initiative and responsibility
•Critical Analysis and creative and reflective thinking
•Intercultural and international awareness activities and exchanges
•Information technology

What are the values of youth work?

The values of youth work match the purpose of education and are fundamental to the process, raising the confidence of individuals, their contribution to society, and their value as citizens. These values are
•Empowerment of young people
•Equality and inclusion
•Respect for all young people
•Involvement of young people in decision-making
•Partnership
•Voluntary participation

What are the benefits of youth work?

Youth work adds value to the lives of all young people, helping them develop lasting skills and attributes, and can particularly affect the lives of young people who are vulnerable or disadvantaged, or are most challenged by school. It can help to build confidence, provide role models, open up new experiences and give young people a sense of belonging.

For young people

Youth work is both educational and enjoyable; both fulfilling and fun along with those that take part have more opportunities and more options for the future.

For communities

Youth Work is about adults and young people working together, building community spirit and playing an active role in the development of their communities

For society

Youth work tackles real social issues, it combats disadvantage, it enhances democratic life and it’s huge value for money!

Definitive features
•Youth work is about voluntary participation
•Young people are involved in youth work because they choose to be, because they want to do worthwhile, enjoyable things in their free time in the company of their friends and interested, supportive adults, both paid and volunteer
•Youth work ‘starts where young people are at’
•Youth work is flexible and versatile in its approach. It starts with young people’s own interests and ambitions and helps them to expand their horizons
•Youth work is about partnership
•In youth work the young people are active partners in making decisions, planning programmes, setting priorities. The youth work relationship is based on dialogue between young people and adults