Meath's Community Responder organisations during Covid-19 emergency

Patricia Cassidy (pictured), the operations manager for Flexibus in Meath, is the county's 'Community Champion', keeping vulnerable people connected in an initiative by Irish Rural Link and The Wheel, funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

The role of the Community Champion is to: Disseminate accurate information throughout their local area, with a particular emphasis on hard-to-reach and vulnerable audiences; support and further mobilise existing volunteer efforts, to ensure safe and effective non-medical services using best-practice guidelines; identify emerging gaps in community services and communicate them promptly to relevant Government sources; and liaise with local authorities and relevant regional services to ensure that people recovering at home or returning from hospital receive necessary social supports.

Patricia can be contacted on (086) 602 7009 or patricia@locallinklmf.ie - see www.wheel.ie/covid-19-community-outreach

Here, supported by Flexibus Meath Louth Fingal, Patricia outlines a list of the community response organisations that can be contacted:

Irish Cancer Society

Irish Cancer Society Freephone Nurseline has extended its hours and is open Monday to Thursday 9.00am – 8.00pm, and Friday/Saturday/Sunday 9.00am – 5.00pm for help and support. Freephone 1800 200 700 cancernurseline@irishcancer.ie

Rape Crisis North East

Rape Crisis North East catchment area is Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Cavan with our main office based in Dundalk. All RCNI centres are working remotely with their “current” client base. Almost all clients have availed of telephone / video support. New clients presenting are also being supported remotely. 1800 212122

Third Age Senior Line - free phone service open 10am to 10pm 1800 80 45 91

St Vincent de Paul

Helpline: We provide practical support to people in need. 1800 677 777 info.northeast@svp.ie

Meath Womens Refuge & Support Services Listening. Believing. Supporting. 24 hour help line 046 9022393 support@dvservicesmeath.ie

SOSAD Support for people feeling suicidal and family members bereaved by suicide Navan phone line 046 907 7682 sosadnavan@gmail.com

FirstLight family bereavement support 24/7 support number is 1850 391 391

Your MentalHealth

HSE 1800 111 888 Alone Helpline open 8am-8pm for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to coronavirus 0818 222 024

Women's Aid 24 hour support for women living with abusive partners 1800 341 900 womensAid.ie

Male Advice Line National male advice line for domestic violence support 1800 816 588

Family Addiction Support Network Support for family members with loved ones in addiction 087 9046405 fasn@gmail.com

Accord Relationships support line 01 531 3331

Aware Provides support & information for people who experience depression or bipolar disorder and their concerned loved ones. 1800 80 4848 supportmail@aware.ie

Family Carers Ireland For any family carer seeking advice, support 1800 24 0724

Crime Victims Helpline Listening. Supporting. Informing. All victims of crime in Ireland. 116 006 info@crimevictishelpline.ie

One Family family support organisation working specifically with people parenting alone, sharing parenting and separating. 016629212 | 1890662212 info@onefamily.ie

Trim Citizens Information Centre Provide free, impartial information, advice and advocacy 0761076180 covid19@citinfo.ie

Navan Citizens Information Centre Provide free, impartial information, advice and advocacy 0761076150 covid19@citinfo.ie

Threshold Free and independent advice and advocacy to tenants 1800 454 454 www.threshold.ie

Irish Wheelchair Association

0858723355 / 0469072539

Bodywhys national voluntary organisation supporting people affected by eating disorders 01-2107906 alex@bodywhys.ie

Irish Foster Care Association National Helpline 01 4585123 support@ifca.ie

Fighting Blindness Our Reach Out Service offers people living with sight loss a regular phone call to help them stay connected 01 674 6496 insight@fightingblindness.ie

Home Life Meath Home maintenance, emergency and outdoor work. 046-9437282

Alzheimer Society of Ireland

Contact the National Helpline to make an appointment. 1800 341 341 helpline@alzheimer.ie

Flexibus Local Link Louth Meath Fingal All our services are still operational, so if anyone needs to go shopping, or anyone needs anything brought back from the shop, please contact us. 1800 303 707 Flexibus@locallinklmf.ie

Jigsaw

Jigsaw provides a range of free mental health supports for young people 1800 544729 help@jigsaw.ie

HSE Dedicated helpline if you or someone you know may have symptoms of coronavirus 1850 24 1850

TravelWise Dept. Foreign Affairs helpline 016131733

Samaritans If you are worries or finding it difficult to cope 116 123

Pieta House Free 24/7 professional helpline for people at risk of suicide and self-harm and those bereaved by suicide 1800 341 900

FLAC Free Legal Advice Centre helpline open 9.30am-1pm and 2-5pm 1890 350 250 or 018745690

Workers Rights Centre SIPTU helpline. Open 9.30am-5.30pm for issues relating to work in all sectors. 1890 747 881

MABS Advice service for money management and debt issues, open weekdays 9am-8pm 0761 07 2000

DEASP Income Support Helpline for Covid-19 1890800024

Spunout.ie We aim to educate and inform our readers about the importance of holistic wellbeing and how good health can be maintained, both physically and mentally. 01 675 3554 hello@spunout.ie

Childline

Childline is open every day and is for all children and young people up to the age of 18 in Ireland. 1800 666666 Free Text 50101

SAGE Advocay To promote, protect and defend the rights and dignity of vulnerable adults, older people and healthcare patients. Sage was established as a support and advocacy service for older people in June 2014 1850 71 94 00 1850@sageadvocacy.ie

Community Gardai

Ashbourne - 01-8010600 Garda Barbara Kelly

Baileboro / Kingscourt 042-9694570 Garda Lisa Stephen or Garda Caoimhe Finnegan

Dunshaughlin - 01-8258600 Garda Derek Halligan Kells - 046-9240999 Garda Padraig Keegan:

Navan: 046-9036100 / 046-9021445 Sgt Liam McCarville, Garda Sabrina Murray, Garda Frank Scully, Garda Stacey Looby, Trim - 046-9431222 Garda Edel Dugdale

Patricia Cassidy says: "As Community Champion, I sit on the Local Authority Community Support Response Forum, this is a great committee, where everyone sits together and it is there to ensure that everybody in County Meath is not forgotten about. Some of the organisations that sit around the table include: Meath County Council, Health Service Executive (HSE), An Post, Community Welfare Service , An Garda Síochána, Tusla, Local Volunteer Centre, Meath Partnership, Red Cross, Civil Defence, GAA, Irish Farmers Association (IFA), • Public Participation Network, Age Friendly Network, Local Link Louth, Meath, Fingal; Citizen’s Information, Alone, Migrant Forum, Resource Centres, Udaras na Gaeltach and Religious. This group meets on a regular basis, and we look at what the issues are that are coming from the different organsiations. This is an excellent platform and allows issues to be brought to the fore, and where needed, sub-groups, or specialist groups are set up. Each of the groups that sit at the table, are putting in a huge effort throughout the county.

"Nationally, the Champions, have assisted with almost 15,000 issues and are working with community groups the length and breadth of Ireland. If anyone needs assistance with anything – just give me a call on 086-6027009."