REPRESENTATIVES from Family Resource Centres (FRCs) in Limerick heard warnings against allowing community tensions to be exploited by manipulators who fuel racism and violence.
Those attending the Family Resource Centre National Forum (FRCNF) national conference at Athlone’s Hodson Bay Hotel, included Jimmy Prior, co-ordinator of the Southill Family Resource Centre.
Speaking at the conference, Fergal Landy, CEO of Family Resource Centre National Forum, said: “As we grapple with the complexities of interculturalism, building communities that are inclusive is crucial.”
“Family Resource Centres – including those in Limerick – have been instrumental in supporting local communities including those who have come and made their lives in those communities all around Ireland.”
The Family Resource Centre National Forum CEO said that “in the last number of years, some people have been exploiting tensions in our communities, seeking to divide society through racism. Many of our communities are struggling with intergenerational poverty and inequality without access to housing or proper public services in areas like health, including mental health, disability, and education.”
“These communities need safe spaces, such as FRCs, to come and discuss their concerns and advocate for their community. In a fully inclusive Ireland, everyone – regardless of their background, gender, or ethnicity – should have access to their basic human needs and the opportunity to contribute and thrive in the community.”
The national conference featured roundtable discussions, presentations of best practices and expert speakers exploring the theme of ‘Inclusive Communities and Intercultural Practice: A Community Development Approach to Interculturalism through the National FRC Programme’.
