Athlone Family Resource Centre

16/10/2026

🏠 Poverty Awareness Week 2026 | Safe Homes for All
Living with Long-Standing Health Problems: When Working Isn't an Option
For people unable to work due to long-standing health problems, the risk of poverty is significantly higher.
📊 According to the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) 2025:
28.4% of people unable to work due to long-standing health problems were at risk of poverty.
39.2% experienced enforced deprivation, meaning they could not afford certain basic necessities.
13.9% experienced consistent poverty, meaning they were both at risk of poverty and experiencing enforced deprivation.
These figures highlight the financial challenges faced by people whose health prevents them from working.
Living with a long-standing health condition can bring additional costs for healthcare, medication, heating and transport. When income is limited, maintaining a safe, warm and suitable home can become increasingly difficult.
Being unable to work because of a health condition should not mean losing financial security, independence or the ability to live with dignity.
Safe, affordable and accessible housing is essential to health and wellbeing. People living with long-standing health problems must also have a voice in decisions about housing and the supports they need.
💚 Finding Support
If you or someone you know is experiencing financial pressure because of a long-standing health condition or disability, the following organisations and services may be able to help.
🏠 Family Resource Centres (FRCs)
FRCs provide community-based information, practical assistance and connections to local support services. Depending on the centre, this may include help completing forms, accessing entitlements and finding appropriate services along with health and wellbeing supports. Find your FRC and ask to speak to a support worker. 🔗 https://www.familyresource.ie/family-resource-centres...
Everyone deserves a safe, suitable home and the opportunity to live with dignity, regardless of their ability to work.
Source: CSO, Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) 2025.
https://www.cso.ie/.../surveyonincomeandlivingconditions.../

🏠 Poverty Awareness Week 2026 | Safe Homes for All
Living with Long-Standing Health Problems: When Working Isn't an Option

For people unable to work due to long-standing health problems, the risk of poverty is significantly higher.

📊 According to the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) 2025:

28.4% of people unable to work due to long-standing health problems were at risk of poverty.

39.2% experienced enforced deprivation, meaning they could not afford certain basic necessities.

13.9% experienced consistent poverty, meaning they were both at risk of poverty and experiencing enforced deprivation.

These figures highlight the financial challenges faced by people whose health prevents them from working.

Living with a long-standing health condition can bring additional costs for healthcare, medication, heating and transport. When income is limited, maintaining a safe, warm and suitable home can become increasingly difficult.

Being unable to work because of a health condition should not mean losing financial security, independence or the ability to live with dignity.

Safe, affordable and accessible housing is essential to health and wellbeing. People living with long-standing health problems must also have a voice in decisions about housing and the supports they need.

💚 Finding Support
If you or someone you know is experiencing financial pressure because of a long-standing health condition or disability, the following organisations and services may be able to help.

🏠 Family Resource Centres (FRCs)
FRCs provide community-based information, practical assistance and connections to local support services. Depending on the centre, this may include help completing forms, accessing entitlements and finding appropriate services along with health and wellbeing supports. Find your FRC and ask to speak to a support worker. 🔗 https://www.familyresource.ie/family-resource-centres-regions.php

Everyone deserves a safe, suitable home and the opportunity to live with dignity, regardless of their ability to work.

Source: CSO, Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) 2025.
https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-silc/surveyonincomeandlivingconditionssilc2025/

15/10/2026

Free Weaning Workshop for Parents in the Athlone Area 👶🥣
Getting ready to introduce solid foods to your baby? Join this Let’s Talk Weaning Workshop for practical information and support to help make the weaning journey easier and more enjoyable!
📅 Thursday, 22 October 2026
🕛 12.00pm–2.00pm
📍 Room 15, Athlone Family Resource Centre, ACT Business Development Centre, Ball Alley Lane, Athlone, N37 H6R2
This workshop is suitable for parents, guardians and carers preparing to introduce solid foods to their baby.
Topics covered include:
🥄 Why weaning is important
🥦 When to begin and how to progress to the next stage
🍌 Food textures at each of the three stages of weaning
💡 Tips for making weaning easy and enjoyable
💬 Your questions and any challenges you may have
👶 Babies are very welcome!
🎟️ The workshop is FREE, but registration is required.
To register your interest, contact Marie Byrne, Community Food Nutritionist:
📱 Text: 085 264 6318
📧 Email: [email protected]
Hosted by Athlone Family Resource Centre as part of the Appropriate Food for Age initiative, supported by Sláintecare Healthy Communities and Longford Westmeath CYPSC.
Know someone who might be interested? Tag them below or share this post!
Westmeath Community Families
Westmeath County Childcare Committee CLG
Áirc Midlands : Supporting Children with Disabilities

Free Weaning Workshop for Parents in the Athlone Area 👶🥣

Getting ready to introduce solid foods to your baby? Join this Let’s Talk Weaning Workshop for practical information and support to help make the weaning journey easier and more enjoyable!

📅 Thursday, 22 October 2026
🕛 12.00pm–2.00pm
📍 Room 15, Athlone Family Resource Centre, ACT Business Development Centre, Ball Alley Lane, Athlone, N37 H6R2

This workshop is suitable for parents, guardians and carers preparing to introduce solid foods to their baby.

Topics covered include:

🥄 Why weaning is important
🥦 When to begin and how to progress to the next stage
🍌 Food textures at each of the three stages of weaning
💡 Tips for making weaning easy and enjoyable
💬 Your questions and any challenges you may have

👶 Babies are very welcome!
🎟️ The workshop is FREE, but registration is required.

To register your interest, contact Marie Byrne, Community Food Nutritionist:

📱 Text: 085 264 6318
📧 Email: [email protected]

Hosted by Athlone Family Resource Centre as part of the Appropriate Food for Age initiative, supported by Sláintecare Healthy Communities and Longford Westmeath CYPSC.

Know someone who might be interested? Tag them below or share this post!

Westmeath Community Families
Westmeath County Childcare Committee CLG
Áirc Midlands : Supporting Children with Disabilities

15/10/2026

15/10/2026

💜 Wave of light - Athlone 2026 💜

This evening we gathered in remembrance of those little stars that have joined our night sky.

Each candle holding light.

Thank you to those who joined in silent vigil and connection.

Grá Mór 🕯️💜

15/10/2026

‼️Our crafting group are taking an early MIDTERM BREAK

We will return in November and update those of you looking to join.

See you after Halloween 🎃 ‼️

We are delighted to be welcoming back our Crafting and Crochet Group next Friday.

The group meets weekly from 10:30 - 12:30pm in Unit 8 ACT Business Development Centre.

If you would like to join the group please email to book your place.

Please do not PM the page for registration, as our page is currently unmonitored.

Longford Westmeath CYPSC

13/10/2026

Memory Pillows Sewing workshop with Áine O Regan

Today was a very special one. Aine led sewing group in Baby and Infant loss remembrance week.
Each stitch carefully placed in honour of those we have lost but carry forever in the treads of our hearts.

Thank you to Aine for her gentleness and kindness in holding space for this, we feel honoured to support the work.

Féileacáin Wave of Light takes place in all corners of Ireland this week. Each place holding light in their own way.

We will be gathering this Thursday the 15th October, Athlone Pedestrian Bridge (Luan side) at 6.30 pm to hold vigil. Please do join us if you feel called to.

13/10/2026

Something exciting is brewing in the AFRC camp!

Are you 12yrs-18yrs (secondary level)? We are bringing back our Youth Hub and are delighted to announce our very first meet up in November.

The Youth Hub and Forum will be a fortnightly social space for young people to get together and have some fun, get creative and get active in using their voice to bring about real action in what young people in Athlone really need. We want to hear it from you!

Come in and meet with youth workers Darren and Aoife and find out what it's all about! we're starting out with pizza and chats on November 19th, 4.30pm - 6.00pm, ACT Centre, Ballalley Lane.

Please feel free to share with anyone interested.

The Youth Forum is a Longford Westmeath CYPSC and led by Athlone Family Resource Centre.

DM us here with enquires
or email
Darren: [email protected]
Aoife: [email protected]

12/10/2026

Something special to introduce the little ones to. Family planting day at Wansboro Park on Sunday the 18th of October.

Sharing details of upcoming family planting day at Wandsboro Park All welcome Sunday 18th October

10/10/2026

This World Mental Health Day we remind ourselves that Lived experience is expertise. The voices of people who experience mental health difficulties must do more than tell their stories. They must help shape the policies, services and decisions that affect their lives.

Learn more and see events taking place this month to mark Lived Experience 👉 https://mentalhealthreform.ie/lived-experience-day/

08/10/2026