FAMILIES leaving Direct Provision can avail of a new integration service thanks to a partnership between the ISPCC and Cratloe businessman Pat Hayes who is chief executive of the Daffodil Foundation.
The service will work with up to eight families a year, helping them move on from direct provision and integrate more fully into the community.
Mr Hayes said that they wanted to impact in some way on the lives of young people in Direct Provision and were delighted to launch the Integration Service in partnership with the ISPCC.
“I’m a long standing admirer of the ISPCC and the services they provide. I’ve no doubt that people will benefit from this great service and from our work. We should demand nothing less than a system that’s fit for purpose.”
ISPCC chief executive Grainia Long explained that the charity has been working with people living in direct provision for more than ten years.
“In that time, we have worked with hundreds of families, hundreds of children, supporting them firstly in the challenges of living in this environment, and more recently with the challenges of moving on and building a new life in this, their new country.
“We believe that children have a right to be heard. We don’t think that children, who are experiencing life in direct provision – in some cases over 50 per cent of their lives as children – are being heard.
“We are indebted to Daffodil Care and in particular, Pat Hayes, for his generous support which has enabled us to launch this service.”
Integration Support worker for the ISPCC, Kelly Petit, said that the project is at pilot stage but is expected to be rolled out nationally.
“This service is child-centred and based on a model of family support. Along with supporting people to face the challenges of moving on from direct provision, the service will help build psychological resilience and increase the capacity of families to cope with their changing circumstances.
Outlining the other services provided by the Daffodil Foundation, Mr Hayes said these included free mental health seminars operated through schools as well as with youth and community groups in Limerick.
“We are also looking at expanding our support of young people who are leaving care by way of financial grants,” he added.
