Ford Centre to help people heal during times of crisis
AFTER 30 years of serving the people of Wexford, the Family Life Service has grown to such an extent that its original title no longer sums up the extent of the services it provides.
And so today, Tuesday, April 7, it will be renamed as The FORD Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre (FCPC). The name is a nod to river fords and how they can be crossed easily, reflecting the work FCPC does to guide clients safely through turbulent times to ‘a safe crossing’, to healing and transformation
Launching the service’s new website at www.theford.ie former Armagh footballer and now addiction counseller Oisin McConville said, ‘I wish the FORD Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre every support and success as it launches its re-branded image and name today.
These are difficult times for many people and many can feel lonely, scared, isolated or unsure about the future. I encourage those who have something troubling them in their lives at this moment not to be afraid to contact the services of The Ford Centre who can reach out right now to provide telephone support until the threat of the COVID-19 virus passes.’
The Centre’s Manager, Michael Dillon, highlighted the importance of the their telephone support service during the lockdown.
‘As we cannot meet you face to face in our counselling rooms, because of the need for social distancing, we are now providing telephone support,’ he said.
‘When it is safe enough to do so we will once again resume our regular counselling sessions. We have been supporting you through many difficult times for over 30 years and we will continue to do so now and into the future.’
On the new facility’s new name, Michael said, ‘Historically, the organisation has worked below the radar, so to speak, and this absence of visibility did not reflect the volume of significant work being carried out by the organisation.
‘In addition to the hidden nature of the organisation, many people had a level of confusion about what the organisation actually delivered, with some thinking it was a family planning centre, which of course it is not.’
Michael thanked the Board of Directors which has driven the re-branding and name change, the staff and volunteer therapists, the funders and in particular Seamus Neville of Neville Hotels and William Neville & Sons, (The Ford Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre received a generous donation of €25,000 from Seamus Neville of Neville Hotels and William Neville & Sons) the Ask Campaign, the HSE, TUSLA, The Diocese of Ferns, the Katharine Howard Foundation and all funders and supporters.
‘The Ford Centre needs this support continuously to deliver this vital service for the mental health and wellbeing of our Co Wexford Community,’ said Michael.
The FCPC has centres located in Wexford town, Enniscorthy and Gorey. It can be contacted on (053) 912 3086.