On Friday 9th October 2020 at 3.00pm the ‘Facing the future together: Discussing Ireland’s lifelong responsibility to the survivors of institutional abuse’ report was launched via a virtual event. Fergus Finlay hosted a panel discussion with Carmel McDonnell Byrne, survivor and founder of the Christine Buckley Centre, Francis Treanor, survivor and board member of Caranua and Right of Place Second Chance, Micheál Walsh, Right of Place Second Chance and Professor Alan Carr, Professor of Clinical Psychology, University College Dublin. The launch can be viewed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTB9HpzSQVw&t

The report is the work of a partnership of seven organisations, Christine Buckley Centre for Education and Support, Barnardo’s Origins, Caranua, One in Four, HSE National Counselling Service, Right of Place Second Chance and Towards Healing, who came together to highlight and advocate for action on five key ‘asks’ from the State for survivors of institutional abuse.

The report details the ongoing effects of the childhood trauma endured by survivors of institutional abuse and looks at their ongoing and future needs:

The five ‘asks’ identified in the report are:

• Enhanced medical card for survivors and support with housing
• Continuation of free easily accessible counselling services for survivors and their families
• Provision of advocacy supports for survivors in the long-term, including accessing public services, linkage with support services, homelessness and addiction supports
• All medical, and public service staff working in a customer-facing role should receive trauma-informed practice training on how to identify survivors and the different approaches to the support they may require.
• Identification of supports needed by survivors based outside of Ireland

The partner organisations first came together on the 11th May 2019 to host a conference and commemoration event to mark the 20th anniversary of the State apology to the survivors of institutional abuse and the 10th anniversary of the publication of the Ryan Report. The Facing the future together report is based on presentations to the conference.

The report’s recommendations are evidence-based and are derived from qualitative research from respected academics, input from survivors and knowledge sharing from service providers with years of experience.

Contributors to the report include:

• Professor Alan Carr, Professor of Clinical Psychology, University College Dublin;
• Dr Grace Sheridan, Clinical Psychologist, Trauma Research Group, University College Dublin;
• Ms Nicola Perry, Service Manager, Community Response, Primary Alcohol & Liver Health Service;
• Ms Isolde Blau, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Tusla;
• Francis Treanor, Barrister, Survivor, Board member Caranua and Right of Place Second Chance.
• Mr Micheál Walsh, Director of Services for Right of Place Second Chance;
• Geraldine Ryan, Clinical Director, the Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy Service, London;
• Fiona Ward, Director of Counselling for the HSE National Counselling Service

If you have any questions please contact survivorsfacingthefuture@gmail.com