BARNARDOS SUPPORT VULNERABLE children all over Ireland and it needs your help to continue its hugely important work.
Last year, Barnardos provided early intervention and targeted services to 20,838 vulnerable children and their families. With 54 locations across the country, the charity provided much needed support and care to families and made lasting changes in the communities it operates in.
Barnardos supports some of the most vulnerable children in Ireland that have been affected by traumatic life events, such as the impact of poverty, experiencing domestic violence, or living with parents who struggle with mental health issues or addiction.
Barnardos know that childhood lasts a lifetime. With over six decades experience working with vulnerable children, the charity has seen first-hand that the longer a child spends living in deprivation and coping with trauma, the greater an impact it can have on their future.
On September 22, Barnardos is holding its annual Giving Day, kindly supported by Dell Technologies, and is seeking to raise much-needed funds to reach more families and impact more lives. Each donation will be used to help children and families receive the care they need.
Amy Hughes, Project Leader in Barnardos Corduff Family Support Service, works with vulnerable children that are affected by trauma every day. Her work, and the work of her colleagues, is vital for improving the wellbeing of thousands every year.
“We work with all family members from parents to grandparents and sometimes aunts and uncles to support them in identifying what their children need to grow and develop in really positive ways,” she said. “The families are involved in all stages of the work we do from planning, to supporting children and parents in achieving their own goals and outcomes.”
Amy says that parents are the experts in their own lives and know their children better than anyone. When they share their situations with Barnardos, it can be difficult for them, but Amy outlined how Barnardos is there to help families by offering vital support and services without any conditions or judgement.
A parent may also be feeling overwhelmed, feeling like they’re going under a little bit and they don’t know what to do. That’s where Barnardos comes in for all of those families, regardless of the reason why,” she said.
Amy explains that parents generally know if their child is struggling with anxiety or self-esteem. “If a child or young person is struggling with anxiety, low confidence or friendships, it can be very lonely and daunting for them” she said. “We want to help parents connect with their children’s feelings so they can support them in how they communicate and interact with their peers, make friends, take part in activities and live their lives to the fullest.”
By giving families the tools they need to build confidence and self-esteem, Barnardos empowers parents to create a nurturing and supportive environment for children at home. This work is impossible without support from the public.
The charity has seen demand for its services increase due to the cost-of-living crisis, a crisis which is pulling more vulnerable children in Ireland into deprivation, negatively affecting their health, wellbeing and development.
In 2022, Barnardos helped almost 24% more families than the previous year. Increased demand for services has led to increased waiting lists, with the need for support growing each week.
“I will only heat one part of the house, my child’s bedroom, and only then until my son falls asleep and then turn it off again,” said one parent who Barnardos has worked with over the past year.
At around seven we go to bed to keep the lights off. I use my mobile phone to light the house when my son is asleep,” they added.
But it’s not just at home the effects are felt on families, as some children are going without absolute minimal necessities as well as missing out on important social development.
“He has no lunch going to school, he can’t afford to go places with his friends, he is sitting in a cold room trying to do his homework,” another parent said.
Sadly, Amy and her colleagues are seeing cases like these becoming more commonplace. “Every family who has children going to school can relate to the pressures within the school environment,” Amy explained. The children and families Barnardos work with need as much support as they can get and to achieve that, Barnardos need your support.
According to Amy, the cost-of-living crisis, combined with life circumstances can be extremely damaging to children.
All these problems are like a spiderweb and it just grows, and grows and grows and it impacts everybody. At the core of that are these children who are experiencing their parents worrying about money, therefore, they’re worrying, are we okay? Are we safe? Are we not getting food? Is mam worried? Is mam going to be sick? Is mam crying?” Amy added.
Barnardos does more than just help families struggling financially and provides both practical and therapeutic supports in services across the country.
Helping parents build and develop strong and supportive relationships with their children is key to breaking the cycle of intergenerational childhood trauma. Funds raised from Barnardos Giving Day will go directly to their work with the most vulnerable children in Ireland.
Because childhood lasts a lifetime.
Barnardos’ Giving Day, supported by Dell Technologies, takes place on Friday 22 September. Please donate what you can at barnardos.ie to help ensure that Barnardos can be there for children when they need us most.
Because Childhood Lasts a Lifetime.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say