Would you Like to help Anam Cara in 2016?
Sadly most people in Ireland personally know someone who has experienced the tragic death of a child/adult child and have witnessed the devastation and heartache. It is often difficult to know how best we can help our bereaved family member or friend. We are currently looking for volunteers to help Anam Cara throughout 2016.
How could I help?
- Could you organise a bag pack in your local supermarket for Anam Cara throughout 2016? Anam Cara can supply t.shirts and collection boxes and help you source volunteers in your area!
- Would you consider asking your local shops or pharmacy to take an Anam Cara Collection box and the Anam Cara pins for the month of November?
- Have you a special skill for fundraising, social media, marketing/PR, website development that would help Anam Cara promote our support services in your area?
- Would you help us raise awareness of Anam Cara Services during our National Awareness Campaign in November 2016?
As Anam Cara does not receive any state funding, we rely on local fundraising and donations to cover the costs of providing our online and face to face services. If you think you could help us in 2016 please contact us on 087 9637790 or 01 4045278, alternatively email us at info@anamcara.ie.
Anam Cara Support Groups
Bereaved Parents Helping Bereaved Parents
‘Sometimes when we reach out to help others on this very difficult journey through grief and loss, we also help ourselves, that is the very essence of Anam Cara…’
Anam Cara facilitates parent evening at each of the Anam Cara groups from September to June each year.
These evenings are co-facilitated by the Anam Cara Volunteers, who are bereaved parents, and a professional with experience of supporting bereaved parents. There is some comfort in talking to other parents who are on a similar journey as they really do understand the intensity the grief. Often by meeting parents who are a little further on their journey can give newly bereaved parents the hope they too will be able to cope and survive their intense grief.
The focus of Anam Cara Parent evenings are to provide a safe and comfortable place where Mum’s and Dad’s can connect with other parents who have experienced the death of their child.
The Anam Cara groups meet at the same venue each month from 7.30pm – 9pm. At each group there is an lending library and relevant information leaflets about other support services and resources in the area.
Current Anam Cara Support Groups:
- Galway – Ballybane Enterprise Centre, Galway City
- Cork – Silver Springs Hotel, Cork City
- Dublin – Dominic’s Community Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24
- Dublin – Applewood Community Centre, Swords
- Kerry – Recovery Haven Centre, Tralee, Co Kerry
- Tipperary – Horse and Jockey Hotel- Thurles, Co Tipperary
- Mayo – The Family Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
- Northern Ireland – Armagh City Hotel – Armagh, Northern Ireland
- Donegal – Mount Errigle Hotel, Letterkenny, Donegal
Anam Cara also facilitates joint events with Milford Care Centre in Limerick to ensure bereaved parents can attend Bereavement Information Evenings in the Limerick area. Anam Cara hopes to have their Anam Cara Midlands and Anam Cara West Cork established in Autumn/Winter 2016.
Is this for me?
If you are considering this volunteer role at Anam Cara, we would recommend you are 3 years on your journey after the death of your son or daughter.
Before You Start!
Attend a Parent Evening at your nearest Anam Cara group. We can also arrange for you to talk to another Anam Cara Volunteer about the role. We will facilitate professionally led training workshops for our volunteers, to ensure you feel comfortable and confident co-facilitating a group with the Professional Co-Facilitator.
Our promise to you
Our volunteers well being is very important to Anam Cara. Parents who take on this role with their local Anam Cara group will be supported by the Professional Co-Facilitator. They will also be able to avail of of regular self care sessions throughout the year
To find out more information about becoming an Anam Cara volunteer, please contact us at info@anamcara.ie or call Sharon on (087) 9637790 or (01) 4045378. We can give you more information about this role and about the Anam Cara groups.