Parents
Alone Support Services
3
Main Street, Finglas Village, Finglas, Dublin 11
Phone+353 (0)1 8643342 passltd@eircom.net
PASS is funded by FAS Community Employment,
The Department of Social Community and Family Affairs and
the European Union.
Parenting
Alone in the Irish Republic
Letter
to the Editor Magill Magazine
BACKGROUND TO PASS
PASS
was established in 1995 by founder members of established
lone parent groups such as Finglas Separated Parents Group,
One Plus, Contact and SPAN. Through their involvement
with these groups, they recognised the need to establish a
centralised Drop In Information centre for all lone parents
regardless of age or gender. At present PASS employs
18 part-time Community Employment participants and has a pool
of approximately 15 volunteer staff. To date there are
approximately 250 members of PASS with this number increasing
daily. Membership is open to all lone parents regardless
of age, gender, religion, politics, sexuality, parents with
custody shared or access. PASS activity encourages
and supports the involvement of male lone parents.
MISSION
STATEMENT :
PASS
is a lone parent support group managed by lone parents, for
lone parents to further the interests of lone parents. We
believe there is a need for recognition of lone parent families
as equal to any other family formation.
PASS
has an "all inclusive" interpretation of the term
lone parent and its membership is open to all irrespective
of gender or circumstances of parenting alone.
PASS
are committed to encouraging the fullest participation of
both parents in the upbringing of their child/ren where the
best interest of the child is being served.
PASS
are committed to working towards an just society where equal opportunity
is afforded to all irrespective of gender, ethnic origin or
class.
AIMS
AND OBJECTIVES
- is
a pro active organisation providing a confidential non-judgmental
support system for all lone parents.
- to
develop a lone parent Family Resource Centre in Finglas
where 75% of queries can be handled in the one place.
- PASS realises
the importance of professional, affordable and accessible
childcare facilities for lone parents and are committed
to supporting their introduction to allow access to training,
education, employment opportunities and equally to allow
for free time.
- to
facilitate the role of men as active lone parents.
- increase
awareness of issues affecting lone parents and work towards
possible solutions.
- enhance
education and employment opportunities for lone parents
and to act as a channel for information.
- to
network with other relevant groups and organisations.
- to
develop the capacity of lone parents to actively participate
in their own communities and address issues of their concern.
- to
work for positive changes in the public perception of
lone parents.
- to
oppose all forms of discrimination against lone parents
or any other minority groups.
- encourage
lone parents empowerment through supporting self help
groups, further education, training and other options
as identified by lone parents themselves.
- PASS
recognises the importance of information technology and
is committed to encouraging its understanding and wider
uses by lone parents.
Information Service
PASS
information service is non directive available to lone parents
and the general public no-one is turned away. The
service operates counselling services or other specialist
services, such as mediation etc. However, we refer
people to agencies for these services. PASS provide
general information on the following categories:
- Family
Law
- Social
Welfare
- Housing
- Education/Training
- Mediation
- Childcare
Lobbying
PASS
are committed to highlighting and removing discrimination
and barriers to lone parents development and to working
towards a society free of discrimination. To
this end, PASS have produced information literature that
focuses on lone parents issues and has run/supported campaigns
in the past, These have included:
The
methodology used to identify lone parents training/education
courses is simple.
On registration all new members are required to fill in an application
that asks about their training/education needs.
PASS then identify a suitable trainer (ideally one that can
give recognised certificates) when we have enough
interest in a training course and when it ends we ask each
participant to complete an evaluation form with a
PASS staff member and if can be run again. It also gives
us the opportunity to speak to members about follow-on training
linked to the completed course or any other training needs of
the course group.
Structure
of PASS
Profile
of PASS Management Committee
Chairperson:
Edward O'Brien
Eddie
is a graduate of Maynooth College with a diploma in Community
Development Leadership Skills. He is a founder member
of Finglas Men's Group in St. Helena's Resource Centre.
Eddie is employed as a facilitator in a local in Community Training
Workshop. He facilitates a Lone Parent Training Course called
PACT, Parents Alone Community Training
Fundraising
Co-ordinator: Bernadette Hughes
Bernadette
Hughes is a facilitator with Finglas Rainbows, a group established
to assist and support children experiencing bereavement or loss.
Bernie is responsible for fundraising for the management committee.
PRO:
Stella Clarke
Stella
Clarke is a graduate of Maynooth College with a diploma in Community
Development Leadership skills. She has co-ordinated the
PASS information service for the last 5 years and is currently
participating in the DICE (drug awareness) training programme.
Stella is the PASS PRO.
Men's
Group Co-ordinator: Damien Smyth
Damien
Smyth is a graduate of the University of Ulster with a degree
in Social Administration and a post graduate diploma in community
work from Maynooth College. He has worked for many years
with disadvantaged groups, youth at risk and Travellers.
Damien is now managing the PASS URBAN Project.
Member: Elizabeth
Cashel
Elizabeth
Cashel is a qualified counsellor and a founder member of the
Finglas Counselling Service.
Member:
Sinead McDonagh
Sinead
McDonagh has a qualification in Computer Applications (ECDL)
Sinead is on the Management Committee of the Finglas Childcare
Services and has extensive experience of dealing with one-to-one
information provision to lone parents. Sinead is responsible
for administration for PASS.
Member:
John O'Neill
John
O'Neill is a graduate of the National College of Industrial
Relations with a diploma in voluntary sector management.
John also has a diploma from Maynooth College in vocational
guidance and facilitation. He has worked in Finglas Community
in the past and is a founder member of Fingal Trade Union Centre for
the Unemployed. John is responsible for the management
of PASS staff.
One
to One Service
PASS provides a one
to one support service for lone parents who feel they need
help through a personal crisis. Whilst there tends
to be a wide variety of reasons for clients seeking assistance
for this service there are some that are prevalent.
These include:
- Court Appearance Support
- Marital/Relationship Breakdown
- Parenting Difficulties
- Homelessness
- Addiction
- Bereavement
- Debt
The one to one service
tends to involve on going support for clients over a period
of time, if a client has a specific problem beyond the scope
of our services, PASS will refer them to an appropriate
agency/group.
Secretarial
Support
Provide:
a)
typing lone parents CV's
b)
filling in forms i.e. EHB, Social Welfare etc.
c)
Letters
Main
Areas of Work of PASS to Date
- development of men's group
and employment of full time men's group co-ordinator under
the EU Urban Initiative
- establishment and on going
support of Finglas Men's Group
- establishment and on going
support of WING (women's incentives & networking group)
- providing education and training
courses as identified by members
- provision of services to
lone parents in Finglas
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