COPE Galway has welcomed the announcement that it will receive €94,000 in once off funding for its abuse services.
The additional funding sees COPE Galway take the lead in developing enhanced outreach services across the county, with €50,000 allocated towards the commencement of a recruitment process for three additional outreach workers.
Another €44,000 is being granted to COPE to support the final costs for the Modh Eile House Domestic Abuse Service which is expected to open early next year.
The new facility will have the capacity of nine family units, which will be a significant improvement and will increase existing accommodation in the current location of Waterside House.
Modh Eile House will also feature enhanced outreach and childcare supports across Galway city and county.
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs announced that €1.5 million is being invested in Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Services around the country in collaboration with Tusla.
Dr Baumann of COPE Galway said that the funding they have been awarded, together with philanthropic support “allows us re-focus our efforts with children – particularly in these county areas.
“We know that domestic abuse has an impact on any child living in an abusive home,” Dr Baumann added.
“We work to help the child in dealing with the impact, in understanding the dynamics of their lives, in navigating their relationships with both parents and most of all, in healing and building their own resilience.”
“We also work with mothers on building the parenting relationship with their child, something which often falls casualty to an abusive home.”
COPE has also said that the new outreach workers will allow them to grow their collaboration with the Family Resource Centres and other relevant community and statutory actors around the city and county.
So far this year COPE has supported 507 women with its domestic abuse services of which 48 women and their 55 children were provided with refuge.
They also supported a further 119 women and their 204 children who they were unable to admit immediately to the refuge.
