• €50,000 will be made available to 25 projects.
  • Pilot grants of €2,000 will be allocated to successful organisations to assist with a range of projects including; supporting parents of children with additional needs, parents from migrant backgrounds, parents of LGBTI+ young people, and parenting when separated.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, today announced the 25 projects to receive funding under the 2023 Supporting Parents, Parent Peer Support Fund. Through this Fund, a total of €50,000 will be made available to support organisations across Ireland to develop inclusive and welcoming parent peer support initiatives for all parents.

Supporting Parents: A National Model of Parenting Support Services seeks to ensure that all parents are confident and capable in their parenting role, helping to achieve the best outcomes for children and families. This peer support fund is a step towards parents feeling confident and comfortable seeking support from their peers.

Research in Ireland has demonstrated that peer support is highly valued by parents, both for common ages and stages and for specific parenting challenges. Informal support networks are an important protective factor that can enhance parental wellbeing and act as a valuable source of information about other parenting support services. Parent peer support groups can promote healthy parenting skills, an increased sense of empowerment, and a feeling of belonging.  Parenting support groups can also be particularly helpful for parents of those who are coping with anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues and for parents of children with complex care needs.

Welcoming the latest announcement, Minister O’Gorman said:

Every parent deserves to feel supported in their role as a parent. This initiative will allow these organisations to continue their important work, fostering these peer connections and support systems across Ireland.

This funding will provide practical support to services focused on providing high quality supports for parents. The variety of initiatives is a credit to the support services who are listening to and responding to the needs of parents in their local areas.

Purpose of projects/activities

The 2023 Supporting Parents, Parent Peer Support Funding Call ran from 20th October 2022 – 18th November 2022.

€50,000 has been made available in 2023 to support these initiatives.

Successful projects:

NameGeographic areaAmount
Children in Hospital IrelandSandyford, Co. Dublin

Nationwide reach

€2,000
Barnardos/Youghal Family Resource InitiativeYoughal, Co. Cork€2,000
Embracing Diversity, Nurturing Integration Project, Mary Immaculate CollegeCo. Limerick€2,000
Co. Wexford Parents HubEnniscorthy, Co. Wexford€2,000
Trim Family Resource CentreTrim, Co. Meath€2,000
St Oliver’s Community Centre CLG – Ratoath Parent Peer ProgrammeRatoath, Co. Meath€2,000
From Lads To DadsTallaght, Co. Dublin€2,000
FGU F2 Centre, Rialto, Family Social Prescribing TeamRialto, Dublin 8€2,000
Bagnalstown FRC – Children with additional needsCo. Carlow€2,000
Bagnalstown FRC – LGBTIQ+Co. Carlow€2,000
Tuismitheoirí na GaeltachtaCo. Galway€2,000
Clonmel Community Mother ProgrammeCo. Tipperary€2,000
Dublin South City PartnershipCrumlin, Dublin€2,000
Kilkenny One-Parent CommunityCo. Kilkenny€2,000
AMBI – Association of Brazilian Families in IrelandDublin 1€2,000
Anew Support ServicesDublin 2€2,000
Elaine Campbell, IBCLC Lactation ConsultantBeaumont, Dublin 9€2,000
Gorey Youth Needs Group CLGGorey, Co. Wexford€2,000
Foróige – HAY Youth Diversion ProjectSummerhill,  Dublin 1€2,000
D12 Autism SupportWalkinstown, Dublin 12€2,000
Ballymote FRCCo. Sligo€2,000
Dóchas Midwest Autism SupportLimerick City€2,000
Yana North Cork Domestic Violence ProjectMallow, Co. Cork€2,000
Shannon Family Resource CentreShannon, Co. Clare€2,000
South West Wexford Family Resource CentreNew Ross, Co. Wexford€2,000
TOTAL €50,000