The London Irish Centre has launched a new response line, providing clear, up-to-date information to former residents of Mother and Baby Institutions and County Homes on the upcoming Payment Scheme.
For the first time services can now be coordinated nationally, the response line will be able to direct people towards to partners icap (Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy), Fréa (a partnership between Irish Community Care based in Liverpool, Irish Community Care Manchester and Leeds Irish Health and Homes) and Coventry Irish Society and other appropriate services across Britain to access suitable emotional support and/or specialist counselling
The Response Freephone Line is 0800 519 5519.
It is open 10am – 4pm every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The survivor service at the London Irish Centre also provides advice and advocacy from two dedicated staff members to former residents and survivors of Irish institutional abuse living in Britain.
Contact Katie for more information on 0207 428 2071 or 07947 111 493, Mon-Fri 9am – 5pm
Fréa provides a confidential support service for people who have lived in Ireland’s Mother and Baby and County Homes between 1922 and 1998.
You can contact the Mother and Baby Home Programme Co-ordinator, Maev
maev.mcdaid@irishcc.net or call 07432 138 682.
Fréa is hosting an open information session on the Irish government’s Mother and Baby and County Home Payment scheme
6.30pm Wednesday 10 August, Irish World Heritage Centre, Manchester.
Brian Dalton, CEO Irish in Britain said,
“This is very welcome news. The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA) reported in 2009 that 37 percent of those who presented lived in the UK, highlighting the need to ensure those in Britain have equity of access to services.
"This network of providers will enable coordinated and culturally sensitive support, and crucially are embedded within their local communities in London, Birmingham, Coventry, Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester. We will continue to work with our members to ensure the needs of survivors in Britain affected by the legacy of residential institutions are understood, heard, and provided for.”
Irish in Britain has further information for survivors here.