Who We Are

Bedford Row Family Project is:
A Limerick City based voluntary group, initiated in 1999 by the Franciscan and Mercy Orders
A Registered Charity and Company Limited by Guarantee, having a Board of Directors whose members come from a wide range of backgrounds and diverse experiences
A Community of People who:
  1. Are inspired by an awareness of the particular experience and issues of families of prisoners.
  2. Support families affected by imprisonment in addressing their issues.
  3. Work with other groups, voluntary, statutory and community based, in the interest of social inclusion.
  4. Are committed to:                                                                          
    i.      Listening to the experience of people affected by imprisonment,                          
    ii.      Allowing that experience to shape the direction of the Project
    iii.      Work proactively with family members of prisoners, and ex-prisoners, to ease their distress and assist them in making positive life choices in particular with respect to their child
    iv.      Provide leadership and direction in design and implementation of programmes that work effectively with families affected by imprisonment and related matters.
 Staff Members (2011):   Annette O’Carroll, Breda O’Halloran, Sr. Bernie O’Grady, Brian McNulty, Claudia Bermingham, Deirdre Ryan, Geraldine O’Brien, Larry de Cléir, Mavourneen Kilkenny, Peter Swircozki, Sharon Cusack (3 f/t and 8 p/t)
Sessional Staff (2011):  Carmel Byrnes, Joe Slattery, Mary Patricia Ryan 
Volunteers: Ciara Morgan, Sr. Eileen Clear, Eugene Stevens, Laura Donaghy, Mary Liggett,  Ursula de Cleir,  (Sessional Staff often work in a Voluntary capacity also)!
Students: Deirdre Sheehy, Jackie O’Flynn, Pauline O’Brien
Intern: Sarah Tubridy
 
Bedford Row Family Project, LimerickTel: 061 315332 … email: info@bedfordrow.ie

Our Sponsors

The initial costs of the Project were carried by the Franciscan Friars and the Sisters of Mercy, who jointly pioneered the Project. They have also sponsored particular projects over the years.

Since December 2001 the Irish Prison Service has provided yearly grant aid to cover the majority of staff and office running costs.  This is vital to the running of the Project and is an acknowledgment by Irish Prison Service of the necessity of our work and its benefit to family members who are affected by imprisonment.

The Mercy Sisters continue to support the Project financially.  Also, their support, by being active members of staff and management committee, is a vital part of our overall effort.

In 2008 The Franciscan Order, when leaving Limerick, granted Bedford Row Family Project a long-term lease of the premises in Lower Bedford Row where we have been since 1999.

  • The Dormant Accounts Funds (Pobal) [Family Support Course]
  • The J P McManus Foundation. [People Carrier]
  • The Department of Social and Family Affairs (FSA) [Counselling and Play Therapy for Children]
  • Limerick Regeneration Agencies [Summer Programme, Training, and Family Support Initiative, and People Carrier].
  • Southill Family Resource Centre [Summer Programme].
  • The Franciscan Order [Social Work Costs]
  • Limerick Social Services Council. [Children’s Groups]
  • Limerick City V.E.C [Tutor Hours and Funding for Teenage Group]
  • St. Stephen’s Green Trust [Core Facilitation Course ongoing]
  • The Community Foundation for Ireland [Children’s Groups]
  • The Health Services Executive (Mid West Region) [Lifesklls and Family Support Course]
  • The St. Vincent de Paul Society [Children’s Groups and Hampers at Christmas]
  • Mid-West Regional Task Force [Interventions to support families affected by addiction]
  • We also, from time to time, receive unsolicited donations from individuals, for which we are most grateful.

We wish to record our sincere and heartfelt thanks to all who have sponsored our work and continue to support us in our endeavours…………