A NEW support group has been set up in the south of the county to help people cope with relationship difficulties.
Family Matters Most was established by Tanya Fenlon, from Bridgetown, and her friend, Nicola, from the Duncormick area.
The group held a support group meeting in Wellingtonbrige recently which was the first event to be held in the area dealing specifically with issues around family breakdowns.
Speaking to the New Ross Echo about the initiative Nicola commented: “It is an area where so many people find themselves lost and often don’t know what to do next. “Unfortunately, it is an area that is growing, for a variety of reasons, across the country.” Nicola, who is not from Wexford but has been living her for some time, described the county as a ‘black spot’ with regard to services and groups offering support to people.
“There are some services on a small scale, to be fair, but finding information can be difficult as distance also plays a factor,” she said.
Family Matters Most operates on a voluntary basis and offers support services for people across the county. Both Nicola and Tanya have a lot of experience in the area of relationship difficulties and they have also worked in the charity sector for a number of years.
“This gives us a unique approach as we have seen and understand from both sides, the necessity of the services – from needing them and then working in them,” explained Nicola.
“Having the necessary qualifications to deal with people in a healing capacity such as coaching and training ensures that people are ‘managed’ properly,” she added.
Between them they are putting a team of experts together that will guide and help anyone going through the process.
The aim of Family Matters Most is to instil self-respect and belief in people who may have their confidence shattered through problems in their relationships. The group is also open to both men and women.
“I suppose we operate the same way as a triage in a hospital,” said Nicola.
“We are also trying to stop people going to solicitors first because that is not the solution,” she added.
Unfortunately, many people experience difficulties in their relationships and while many of them can be sorted out through discussion and interaction some people are subjected to mental and physical abuse and that is something that Family Matters Most is acutely aware of.
As a group it can offer support to people who are experience a wide variety of difficulties and can point people in the right direction for additional support services.
“The idea of the group is to link in with all other available services in the county,” said Nicola.
“We are aiming to deal with people similar to the way triage deals with people in a hospital A&E Department. On an individual basis, we can get clear on where the person is at and where they want to be [and] after hearing their story, and working with them, it is much easier to steer them in the direction that will suit their situation best and aim for the best outcome for them”.
Unfortunately, family law is the most lamentable aspect of the Irish court system. Invariably, children get caught in the cross-fire between parents trying to resolve their difficulties and all too often by the time cases reach court the damage has already been done. The aim of Nicola and Tanya is to try and help people resolve their difficulties without having to go to court.
“The only time they should need to go in front of a judge is to have paperwork legally processed as opposed to sorting out arguments,” said Nicola.
“It will make the job of the solicitors involved much easier. We are aiming to stop the fighting.”
The service provided by Family Matters First is free-of-charge and one-to-one meetings can be arranged. For more information on the services provided by the group contact Nicola (086-6056372) or Tanya (087-1622433).
