Family Resource Centre National Forum - 121 Family Resource Centres Snapshot 2021
Happy to Chat
Happy to chat bench signs have been installed in Kenmare in a joint venture with Kenmare Family Resource Centres Linkworker and Kenmare Tidy Towns.
The four benches located in Kenmare, which are fitted with 'Happy to Chat' plaques in order to invite passers-by to stop and engage in a friendly chat with those sitting on the bench.
By providing a platform for people to support one another and offering genuine connection we can increase compassion and empathy, reduce the rate of loneliness and boost the level of healthy conversation that happens in our community.
Some people may go days or even weeks without the simplest of human contact, so the 'Chat Bench' seeks to break down that social barrier and allow us to all say 'Hello'.
We hope the signs help break down the invisible social barriers that sometimes exist between people who are sharing the common space of a bench.
Loneliness and isolation persist in Kenmare, despite a friendly and bighearted community, so new approaches to encourage and facilitate engagement and interaction are required…. now more than ever.
The benches are an opportunity for us all to make a connection with someone new.
“Happiness is a by-product of an effort to make someone else happy” Gretta Palmer
Mind Your Wellbeing - A new mental health and wellbeing programme launched
HSE Health & Wellbeing has launched a new, free, online mental health and wellbeing programme called Minding Your Wellbeing. This evidenced based programme, focusing on the promotion of mental wellbeing, has been adapted from a face-to-face programme into a series of online videos for everyone at this time.
What does the programme consist of?
Consisting of 5 video sessions (20 min) which can be accessed by visiting www.yourmentalhealth.ie and following the links. The content focuses on:
Explores the importance of individual ‘s ‘self-care’ and encourages participants to build their own ‘self-care toolkit’ which includes healthy habits for their mental health and wellbeing.
Invites participants to reflect on their own thinking and consider how thinking patterns can impact wellbeing.
Encourages participants to notice their emotions and increase their positive emotions to improve their wellbeing.
Discusses ways in which participants can nurture, value and foster positive relationships which are so important for mental wellbeing.
Invites participants to improve their resilience, learn about the building blocks of resilience including the importance of focussing on strengths.
This provides a unique opportunity for everyone to learn and practice key elements of mental wellbeing such as mindfulness, gratitude, self-care and resilience.
World Suicide Prevention Day Brochure
COVID Tracker is a free and easy-to-use mobile phone app that can:
Alert you if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus
Advise you on what to do to protect yourself and others
Alert other app users that you were in close contact with, if you test positive for coronavirus
Just click on the link below for further information.
Please click on the link below to read to book;
Please click on the link below for helpful information on Minding our Mental Health during the COVID-19 crisis: A Resource for Carers
Minding our Mental Health during the COVID-19 crisis: A Resource for Carers
Please click on the link below from some useful information from parents plus.
Please see the below information from the NPC - National Parents Council which maybe be of intrest to parents who have children transitioning from preschool to primary school.
Due to Covid-19 we are unable to continue with the delivery of the parent programme supporting transitions from pre-school to primary school around the country as we had planned. However, we still feel that it is important that we support parents to prepare themselves and their children for this transition so we have developed a short video with some of the key information from the programme which is available here.
There is no need to register just hit the play button below and if you have any questions please contact one of our helpline officers at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. who will be happy to assist you.
This session can also be accessed and shared via Facebook and Twitter
Useful ideas from Kerry Children and Young People’s Services Committee’s (CYPSC);
Top 3 daily activities/resources for children and young people to do online or at home during the pandemic.
Hardship Fund for Older People
Age Action and the Irish Red Cross have raised funds to provide assistance to older and vulnerable people around Ireland who are experiencing hardship due to Covid-19 with a once off grant of €500.
Those that can apply are;
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They can apply for the following;
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How to apply;
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 01-6424600 or 01-4756989
Or the form is in the below link;
https://www.ageaction.ie/…/2020-covid-19-hardship-fund-form…
Helpful Links - Covid 19
Recommendations to support and protect children’s emotional well-being during the pandemic
Guidance when talking to your child about Covid-19
Coping with the impact of Coronavirus for adolescents and young adults
#together
Please click on the link below to find A Guide for the Bereaved during the COVID-19 Pandemic