In 2018 Barnardos was designated the lead agency in the development of the FRC located in Finglas West working alongside representatives from School Completion, St Joseph’s School, Finglas Youth Centre, Dublin North West Area Partnership, Finglas Childcare, Tulsa, An Garda Siochana, St Helena’s Family Resource Centre, Finglas Youth Services, Finglas Cabra Local Drugs Task Force, St Kevin’s School, and Dublin City Council.
Family Resource Centres (FRCs) are located in areas of disadvantage and operate within a community-based model of family support.
The centrality of community development in informing the approaches, values and methods underpinning the work of FRCs is a defining feature of their contribution.
The Finglas West FRC will actively work to engage everyone living in the Finglas West area by creating a welcoming and inclusive space where people have a sense of belonging. A range of evidence informed programmes will be offered to strengthen the resilience of children and their families and to make a real and lasting difference to their lives.
Our vision is that all children, families and communities will actively participate and be included in a society that is free from prejudice, inequality, discrimination and exclusion, and which will contribute to their greatest possible well-being.
The National FRC Programme
The Family Resource Centre (FRC) programme is Ireland’s largest National Family and Community-based support programme, core funded by Tusla – The Child and Family Agency.
Finglas West FRC is one of over a hundred FRCs in Ireland. The principal objective of the FRC programme is to combat disadvantage and to strengthen and empower children, families and communities to achieve the five National Outcomes. The programme involves local communities in addressing the issues they face, and creates meaningful partnerships for social change between voluntary and statutory agencies.
Our Objectives
- Develop a safe and child friendly environment within and surrounding the FRC
- Develop an effective staff team and governance for the FRC
- Involve community members from the initial stages in the running of the FRC
- Provide opportunities for community members to give their views on and foster ownership of the FRC space
- Develop an approach to engage all of the community in using the FRC
- Plan services which meet the identified needs of the community
- Deliver universal evidence based services to foster family and community wellbeing
- Provide information and advice to community members
- Provide support and advocacy, enabling access to services that meet relevant needs, including support with self-referrals
- Provide a base for other services and work collaboratively to enhance existing service provision
- Support community members to actively participate in the FRC
- Promote positive family relationships
- Promote community wellbeing