Minister visits Clara Family Resource Centre

Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Hildegarde Naughton visited Clara Community and Family Resource Centre on Friday.

The Minister of State was welcomed by Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr Frank Moran and Chief Executive Anna Marie Delaney along with Liz Fleming, Coordinator Clara Community & Family Resource Centre.

Cathaoirleach Moran explained that Clara FRC had benefitted from funding under Healthy Ireland’s Community Mental Health Fund and all involved were delighted to showcase this project to Minister Naughton.

Liz Fleming advised Minister Naughton that “working with a number of partners, the Clara Family Resource Centre, using this funding, was able to assist the local community by providing crisis intervention and family counselling including for parents and children with disabilities.”

Ms Fleming said: “People were struggling with negative health aspects such as bereavement, separation, anxiety, unemployment, loss, and missing social interaction during lockdowns and post lockdown. The cost of private counselling, and the lack of transport, prevented people from accessing counsellor supports in other towns. Providing low-cost accessible counselling on site in the Clara FRC was a lifeline for many.”

Ms. Fleming paid particular tribute to the counsellors that came into the Resource Centre for the benefit of users.

Minister Naughton said: “Clara FRC project supported communities during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. The demand for community and local based supports throughout the country multiplied so funding came at an opportune time. It is wonderful to see the benefits of Healthy Ireland funding first hand.”