Who we work with

Family Resource Centres

Family Resource Centres are projects involved in anti-poverty and social inclusion initiatives in their communities and have a clear focus in identifying the needs of family and in providing community based supports. FRCs operate under the Family Support Agency within the Family and Community Services Resource Programme. The aim of a Family and Community Services Resource Centre is essentially to help combat disadvantage by improving the functioning of the family unit. Centres can provide special services for lone parent families, young mothers and others considered in need of extra support and can act as a first step to community participation and social inclusion. Centres actively foster the participation of local people, including people with disabilities, in all aspects of the work of Centres and participants should be involved in the planning and management of Centres as well as the design and delivery of specific programmes.

Family Support Agency

The Family Support Agency (FSA) was formally established in 2003, under the Family Support Agency Act, 2001. The FSA has responsibility for a number of family programmes and services in line with the Government’s Families First approach to the development of Family Policy and Service. The main task of the Family Support Agency is to support families, promote continuity of stability in family life, prevent marital breakdown and foster a supportive community environment for families at a local level.
The function of the FSA in the context of this research project is:

  • To support, promote and develop the Family and Community Services Resource Centre Programme

Community Development Projects

Community Development Projects (CDPs) are funded under the Community Development Support Programme within the Department of Community, rural & Gaeltacht Affairs. Similar to FRCs, these projects have an anti-poverty focus and support communities’ ability to articulate their needs so that they can influence the processes that structure their everyday lives.

Regional and Specialist Support Agencies

Support Agencies are community development organisations committed to the overall aims of the Community Development Support Programmes and work with a community development ethos and framework. The aim of support agencies is to promote good practise and set standards for community projects. Specialist Support Agencies have a national focus and expertise in work on specific issues e.g. Travellers, violence against women, and people with disabilities.