CONNECT:
Ely Family & Community Service

Ely Family & Community Service

Service Overview

The Ely Centre Family and community Service Team consists of members of staff located in our offices in Enniskillen and Portadown.

The Ely Centre Family and community Service Team provides:

  • A range of day and overnight respite trips bringing people together to facilitate social interaction and create a sense of belonging. These events provide new experiences and allow members to mix within a safe and supported environment.
  • A program of personal and professional development classes where our members can up-skill and develop new and existing interests on a wide variety of topics.
  • Coffee Mornings are hosted at various locations of interest in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. These events consist of guest speakers presenting on a diverse range of topics followed by refreshments.
  • Intergenerational respite events to encourage the coming together of family members through, activity days, mums and daughters retreats, fathers and sons retreats etc. These events encourage those taking part to make the time to get away together and strengthen bonds within the family unit.
  • Family friendly events offering activities that are suitable for all ages to come together and enjoy.
  • A range of family health and general wellbeing programs These events include physical activity classes and mental health workshops designed to improve their quality of life.
  • Ongoing support through open door service were members can feel free to drop in and get updates on current events and speak to staff.
  • A Community Befriending Programme providing essential visitation and transport services to our most vulnerable clients.
  • Veterans Modelling NI: Our unique male veterans scale model making programme aimed at reducing social isolation and promoting positive mental health and friendship through the skill of model making.

Connect:

The Connect Programme aims to

 

Improve our clients quality of life and provide positive and uplifting life experiences.

 

Strengthen the family bond and increase understanding of the effects of the troubles between generations of the family.

 

Integrate our clients into their local communities and feel less lonely and socially isolated.

 

Address educational needs and improve the self confidence and capacity of clients.

 

Provide essential befriending support for those clients most in need.

 

All of our programs are developed to focus on the needs of members and delivered using a wide range of educational and Innovative methods to maximize the member’s experiences.

 

On an average year over 1000 clients are supported through the Connect Service.

 

Details of all Ely Family and Community service events can be found on our “Ely Centre” Facebook page (friend request required) and on our website.

STAFF

Community Befriending Service

ABOUT THE SERVICE

Everyone needs other people, but not everyone has someone. For people whose injuries now require increasing hospital appointments or through reasons of bereavement of a spouse/ partner of family member have become more socially isolated ,for those who need help with transportation to centre/community events or just need a caring person to call with him, being matched with a befriender can help address many day to day needs.
Whilst there are many strengths in modern society, one of its weaknesses is the breakdown of many of the old structures and networks that supported people in times of crisis and need.
Whenever we lose a strengthening element in society, we need to replace it with alternative systems as quickly as possible. Community Befriending is a crucial part of this process, because it can help address the social and practical difficulties the Troubles have left many facing.
The Ely Centre offers a community befriending service through a network of trained volunteers to civilians and security force personnel who have been bereaved or injured as a result of terrorism.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS

The results of befriending can be very significant. Befriending can provide people with a new direction in life, opens up a range of activities which may leads to improved emotional well being.
Throughout Fermanagh and South Tyrone many who have suffered from the troubles live in rural areas and are not close to the main centres which could greatly benefit them, others are unable to attend meetings, classes and some even experience difficulty in attending medical appointments for their injuries.

Befriending not only addresses emotional issues but also logistical problems. Through the provision of transport, The Ely Centre can offer more opportunities for members by bringing them to training and social events in the Ely Centre, GP appointments and hospital trips and also on days of remembrance helping them visit areas of personal and family significance such as graveyards and memorials.

Our volunteers many of whom have suffered as a result of terrorism in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, know the effects which are members and their families experience and bring another level of emotional support to those in need of help.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM THE SERVICE

CONFIDENTIALITY
Professionalism The Service is deliv ered by Voluntary Accredited Befrienders all of whom receive continuous training and supervision from the Ely Centre and The Victims and Survivors Service to ensure they are equipped the knowledge to deliver the most effective service.
CARE
Our team are compassionate and non-judgemental in their approach, they will listen ,understand and care for you throughout.

BECOME A COMMUNITY BEFRIENDER

The Ely Centre is always on the lookout for new community befriending volunteers.
The people most suited to befriending are those who are interested in helping others who have suffered as a result of the troubles, they are good listeners, are reliable, and have 1-2 hours to commit each week.
Often previous experience is not needed. It’s more about who you are than what you’ve done. Befriending is a chance to give something as a volunteer through your time and commitment and every befriender has stories of what they get back in return.
Because befriending involves supporting someone who is isolated, projects assess volunteers carefully. The Ely Centre provides ILM accredited training to prepare you for the role.
Once you’ve been matched with a client the centre provides regular support, supervision and on-going training.
If you would like to refer to this service please drop into the centre, give us a call, or fill in the service referral form which should only take a few minutes.

Carers Support Service

The Ely Centre Carers Support Programme is a unique service created to  provide therapeutic, emotional, respite and training opportunities to those who are the registered carer of a person injured as a result of the troubles.
Who is A Carer ? A person who provides help and support to a Victim of the Northern Ireland Troubles, who could not manage otherwise because of frailty, illness or disability.  The person being cared for must be in receipt of either DLA , Attendance Allowance or a War Disability Pension.
In addition to Ely Centre Services which all Carers can avail of including:
  • Counselling and Psychological Services
  • Complementary Therapies
  • Welfare and Benefits Advice
  • Community Befriending Services
  • Carers can furthermore avail of specific services developed for them including
  • Carers Respite Days
  • Carers Financial Support
  • Carer Training Courses
  • Carers Counselling Support Groups
  • Monthly Carers Coffee Mornings
Please contact the Carers Officer to obtain a detailed list of events and opportunities
If you would like to refer to this service please drop into the centre, give us a call, or fill in the which should only take a few minutes.