Speech at the Official Launch of Claremorris Family Resource Centre’s New Premises
Claremorris, 18th October 2014
A Dhaoine Uaisle,
Tá mé an-sásta a bheith anseo inniu chun-áitreabh nua Ionad Acmhainní Teaghlaigh Clár Chlainne Mhuiris a oscailt go hoifigiúil.
[Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very pleased to be here today to officially open the new premises of Claremorris Family Resource Centre.]
Ba mhaith liom ómós a thabhairt do Bhord Deonach na Stiúrthóirí agus a Chathaoirleach, Sean Gallagher, chomh maith leis an chuid eile den fhoireann agus na n-oibrithe deonacha a d’oibrigh go díograiseach chun a chinntiú go mbeadh an tIonad Teaghlaigh seo in ann na seirbhísí ríthábhachtacha do chomhtháthú agus do bhláthú bhur bpobal áitiúil a sholáthair.
I would like start by paying tribute to the Voluntary Board of Directors and its Chairman, Sean Gallagher, as well as all the staff and volunteers who have worked so diligently to enable this Family Centre to deliver the services that are so vital to the cohesion and flourishing of your local community, here in Claremorris.
May I also avail of this opportunity to express my deep appreciation for the excellent work carried out by all the Family Resource Centres across Ireland, who have at heart the will to support some of the most vulnerable members of Irish society, and thus contribute to the building of a more just and inclusive Ireland.
A truly functioning community is one which understands the importance of reaching out to all of its people, offering support, advice and a way forward – so that all of our citizens are given the opportunity to explore and celebrate their possibilities, and feel that they can fully participate in society. Claremorris’s Family Resource Centre plays an important part in the fulfilment of that goal.
The range of activities and services which this Centre has been providing since 2007 is truly impressive. They include – to mention but a few – adult education programmes, out of school support for children, healthy eating and healthy lifestyle courses, support programmes for carers and domestic violence awareness initiatives.
I have no doubt that these new premises, which were opened to the public last March, will allow you to expand further your activities and run more programmes – and I wish to congratulate all those involved in bringing this project of a new venue to fruition.
Claremorris’s Family Resource Centre supports local families who may experience difficulties at various stages of their lives. A number of your programmes are designed for children, based on a recognition that the roots of many future achievements or, on the contrary, difficulties, are sown in the early years of life. Enabling all of our children to reach their potential must indeed be a priority for our society.
You also have programmes targeted at young people, such as drug and alcohol awareness workshops, and others especially aimed at older people. I was very interested to learn of your Men’s Support Group, established in 2011. We all know that there can be a profound reluctance amongst Irish men to discuss problems, concerns, and negative experiences, not wishing to appear vulnerable by sharing such thoughts and feelings with friends and family.
Earlier this month, I was invited to speak at the Irish Men’s Shed Association’s National Conference. In my speech, I highlighted that far too many men suffer in silence in our country, and that we need more of such initiatives, that contribute to bringing about an Ireland where men feel comfortable to share their experiences and emotional difficulties with those close to them and ask for help if they need it.
Of course a return to significant levels of unemployment in this country in recent years has made the circumstances of so many families even more challenging. Unemployment has brought with it deep wells of despair and frustration, often leading to a damaging sense of futility and disengagement from society.
As unemployment remains the most pressing challenge to be addressed in Ireland today, and indeed in every country of the European Union – in particular long-term unemployment and youth unemployment, it is important that communities can avail of the services and support of Centres such as this one.
This Family Resource Centre, reaching out as it does to a variety of social groups and to people of all ages, thus plays a pivotal role in assessing the needs of the people of Claremorris and the surrounding area, and ensuring that the adequate services are in place to address the needs of the most vulnerable among us.
When I talk of “the vulnerable among us”, I am not referring to any fixed category of people, occupying a separate place in society. In several of my previous speeches, I suggested that the use of the term ‘vulnerable’ is too often associated with specific groups of people – “vulnerable older people”, “vulnerable children,” for example.
In fact, none of us present here this afternoon are ‘invulnerable.’ All of us have urgent needs for care at various stages in our lives, as a consequence of infancy, old age, physical or mental illness, impairment or other difficulties. Vulnerability is a constituent part of the human condition: all of us will, one day, face existential circumstances such that we will need support and assistance.
Some of the families who come to this Centre require specific assistance, for instance a once-off parenting course. Others require a greater level of support, and you are playing a vital role by offering the sustained help and care they need in order to get back on track.
Importantly, this Centre is not one where people get assistance in a passive way, but a place where they are given the tools and support they need to become empowered members of the community. As your “mission statement” says very clearly, Claremorris Family Resource Centre is “working with rather than for the people it serves.”
Thus Claremorris Family Resource Centre is a vital resource for the community here and you can be proud of what you have achieved, and what you will continue to achieve, in this new place.
May I thank you, once again, for your kind invitation to come here today. I am delighted to declare the new Claremorris Family Resource Centre officially open, and I wish you every success in your future endeavours.
Comhghairdeas libh go léir agus guím gach rath oraibh sa todhchaí.