Family Ministry

Rainbows

 Supporting children through life altering loss

Rainbows is a peer support programme which assists children and adolescents who are grieving a death, separation or other painful transition in their family. It is not counselling or therapy. It is led by local volunteers who facilitate a small group of 4-6 children, allowing them the space to share, learn and grow.

Training new facilitators

An opportunity for communities, schools & parishes to train Rainbows leaders.

Participants for training must have:

• Attended information session           

• Have basic facilitation skills

• Have a healthy awareness of the bereavement journey

• Have done or be willing to do some training in the area of child protection, and, be linked to a sponsoring body (i.e. be sent by specific school, parish etc).

• It is expected that all who train will participate with their sponsoring body in a 12 week Rainbows program during this academic year.

Please contact Noirin in advance if your school or parish is interested in becoming a new Rainbows site. (061 400133)

Training Co-ordinators for Existing Sites

Date:           Thursday, 25th February

Time:           7.00 p.m -9.00p.m. 

Venue:           Pastoral Centre

Pre-booking essential due to limited numbers. Contact Noirin (061 400133)

Child Protection Training for Rainbows Facilitators

This training is offered by the H.S.E. for trained Rainbows facilitators who have registered to participate. Limited numbers. Please contact Noirin immediately for full details.

Date:            Saturday, 30th January and Wednesday 3rd February

Venue:           Pastoral Centre

Living Links

Limerick city and county LIVING LINKS provides confidential practical and emotional support to families who have experienced a death by suicide

Suicide Outreach Support Worker

(SOS Worker)

The SOS Worker at the request of the family, will call to the home or meet at a location appointed by the family. He or she will provide information and support concerning the following areas:

• Help to clarify personal grief

• Connect to other support services in the area.

• Provide information on suicide and attempted suicide.

• Be there, as a support.

CONTACT NUMBER:     087-7998427        Between 5p.m – 7p.m, (Monday to Friday)

If busy, an answering machine will take the message. Just leave first name and telephone number. The Living Links Co-Ordinator will return the call as soon as possible.

Suicide Healing Bereavement Programme

This is an seven week (one night a week) programme which helps those bereaved by suicide:

• To find healing in a safe and supportive environment.

• To approach their grief in the company of others by sharing their stories in small groups.

• This sharing enables them to approach this highly sensitive and painful topic in a structured and safe way.

• Each small group will have its own experienced facilitator.

• Confidentiality and Listening assured.

A 7 week program will be commencing in Autumn 2010,

Facilitated Support Group

A support group open to anyone bereaved by suicide is held on the second Thursday of each month in the Limerick Diocesan Pastoral Centre at 7:30p.m.