Newpark Close Family Resource Centre in Kilkenny - going from strength to strength!

Newpark Close Family Resource Centre is a community centre which was built in 1976 to provide services and support for families living in the housing estate of the same name.

It served primarily to address the needs of families in the area, and also served to eliminate the sense of isolation and social exclusion that some residents who were moved into the estate began to experience.

Tributes paid to Sheila Donnelly of Newpark FRC from city councillors in Kilkenny

Due to its longevity, a trust has been built up between the FRC and the community, and the centre is viewed as a safe and supportive place to come when difficulties occur.

Between January and June of this year, Newpark FRC have directly supported 87 families, provided 150 hours of counselling and have helped 13 men who have been experiencing domestic issues.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of the vast amount of services provided this hugely important FRC, servicing Newpark, Kilkenny and beyond.

The Newpark FRC staff are well known to local people, which helps them to provide more in-depth support with families when addressing difficulties, and preserves the positive relationship we have with the community.

The FRC also engages pro-actively in networking at local, regional and national level.

The achievements of the FRC are the result of over 40 years of dedicated voluntary commitment from the community, which has now also crossed into the next generation of new up and coming community activists.

Over the last four decades, Newpark Close FRC has grown from a small community centre to a thriving and busy centre which achieves the highest standard of management and organisational development.