Community Services

Community Services

Below you will find information and links to various supports and services available nationally that you may find useful.

Askonefamily Helpline

askonefamily is the helpline for people parenting alone, sharing parenting and for those separating. We also provide information and support to professionals, family members and friends. Call the askonefamily helpline on 0818 662 212 or 01 662 9212. You can also email your query to helpline@onefamily.ie.

Family Resource Centres

There are currently over 100 Family Resource Centres (FRCs) in Ireland. FRCs provide a range of universal and targeted services and development opportunities that address the needs of families.

This includes the provision of information, support, education courses, community groups, childcare facilities, after-school clubs, counselling and practical assistance to individuals and community groups such as access to information technology and office facilities. You will find your local FRC here.

Saint Vincent de Paul

Saint Vincent de Paul believe that everyone should have the means to live life with dignity. Their main area of work is person to person contact with people who need help and assistance. When someone contacts SVP they will receive a visit from two SVP volunteers, usually within ten days from the time the request for help is received. During the visit, you can discuss your particular problems in depth with friendly people who make no judgement on the situation. You can request help online here.

Counselling and Psychotherapy

If you want to avail of counselling, psychotherapy or family therapy always look for someone who is properly qualified, the professional bodies below have registers of accredited people:

 

Rainbows Ireland

Rainbows Ireland provide support groups for children who have experienced separation and bereavement. This is a peer-lead group programme facilitated by a trained Rainbows facilitator. There is further information here.

Play Therapy

For access to a private play therapist, you can review accredited professionals here.

Jigsaw

Jigsaw support young people’s mental health. Advice and support is made available to young people aged 12–25 years-old.

Turn2Me

Turn2Me offer counselling support to young people from age 12.

Parent & Relationship Mentors

Irish Association of Relationship Mentors is the professional and representative body for Parent and Relationship Mentors in Ireland. Parent and Relationship Mentors offer support and encouragement to parents and any individual seeking psychosocial emotional wellbeing. Mentors work with individuals, families, schools, local communities, and business communities offering parent & relationship mentoring & educational courses. Find out more here.

 

Health Service Executive (HSE)

For questions about health services, your entitlements, or how to access HSE health or social services in your area you can phone HSELive to speak to an agent on 1800 700 700 or review the HSE website.

 

Collaborative Practice

The Association of Collaborative Practitioners (ACP) consists of specifically trained professionals such as: family consultants, lawyers, child specialists and financial specialists. Collaborative Practice is a multidisciplinary dispute resolution process that offers significant benefits in appropriate cases. It is a voluntary process in which participants resolve the issues between them in the breakdown of their relationship without resorting to litigation.

 

Legal Aid Board & Family Mediation Service

There is a government-funded scheme for legal aid to provide legal advice  and representation in Court for people who cannot afford to pay for it privately. The scheme is run by the Legal Aid Board  and is means-tested, that is, you must be earning or receiving less than a certain amount of money to qualify for legal aid. The Legal Aid Board also runs the Family Mediation Service.

 

Private Mediation

Mediators are trained to work with individuals, families, and organisations in situations where agreements need to be reached. They have particular training in doing this where there are differences of opinion, and where there is conflict. In Ireland, there is a recognised training path for mediators, and a professional association, The Mediator’s Institute of Ireland which keeps a register of qualified practitioners.

The Courts Service

The Courts Service manages the courts, support the judiciary and provide a high quality and professional service to all users of the courts. Contact details for the District and Circuit courts are available on the Courts Service website.

Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC)

FLAC is an independent human rights organisation dedicated to the realisation of equal access to justice for all. They run legal advice centres, staffed by volunteer solicitors and barristers, across the country. You can call their Information & Referral line on 01 9061010.

Money Advice & Budgeting Service

MABS is the Irish money advice service. If you’re struggling with debt and need help you can get impartial advice from MABS to help you manage your money and take control of debt. They offer support online, over the phone and face to face. You can call their helpline on 0818 07 2000.

 

City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs)

The City and County Childcare Committees (CCC’s) work together locally and nationally and offer a wide number of services. They offer guidance to parents and childcare service providers on an ongoing basis and act as a local centre of information in relation to early childhood care and education. They also provide information on local childcare facilities and details of parent networks, and many have on-line information for parents seeking childcare. For further information contact your local City and County Childcare Committee here.

 

Parentline

Parentline offer support, guidance and information on all aspects of being a parent. You can telephone their helpline on 0818 927 277.

Barnardos

Barnardos National Children’s Resource Centre offers information to parents and professionals on all aspects of family life. For details of regional offices contact Barnardos’ Head Office on 0818 222 300.

Treoir
Treoir provide a free, confidential, specialist information service for parents not married to each other, living together or apart, their extended families and those working with them. They have useful information leaflets on their website in relation to family law issues.

 

AWARE – depression support

Aware provides support services to individuals experiencing depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, or other mood related conditions as well as to people who are concerned about a loved one. All three support services are offered free of charge. The Support Line and Support Mail are available seven days a week and Support & Self Care Groups take place daily.

Samaritans

Samaritans offer a 24-hour helpline. Whatever you’re going through, you can call them free any time, from any phone, on 116 123.

My Options Unplanned Pregnancy Support Service

The My Options helpline can provide you with information and support on all your options, including continued pregnancy supports and abortion services. They provide counselling over the phone and can also provide you with information on free face-to-face counselling. Freephone: 1800 828 010.

 

Rape Crisis Centre

You can contact the National Rape Crisis Centre 24-Hour Helpline at 1800 77 8888, at any time of day or night. They offer a free and confidential listening and support service for anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted, sexually harassed or sexually abused at any time in their lives. See Rape Crisis Network Ireland for details of national rape crisis centres.

Women’s Aid

The Women’s Aid 24hr National Freephone Helpline offers confidential information, support and understanding to women in the Republic of Ireland, who are being abused by current or former boyfriends, partners or husbands. The service also supports family members, friends, and professionals who have concerns about a person, they know or are working with, who might be experiencing domestic violence and abuse. Freephone: 1800 341 900.

 

Men’s Aid
Men’s Aid Ireland is the only dedicated national service supporting men and their families experiencing Domestic Violence including coercive control in Ireland. Their professional and qualified support team have years of experience in supporting men and families experiencing domestic abuse. Contact the National Confidential Helpline on 01 554 3811.

Citizens Information

Citizens Information provide a phone service – 0761 07 4000 from 9am to 8pm, Monday to Friday which provides a comprehensive, confidential telephone information service.

 

 

Disclaimer:

In addition to our own organisational information on this website, One Family also includes links to selected external internet sites which may be of interest. These external sources are outside of our control. It is the responsibility of internet users to ascertain the accuracy and reliability of information found. While care is taken to provide links to suitable material, we cannot guarantee the operation of external sites or links from these sites. We do not endorse products or services provided by others.