Over the past seven days, Newstalk has partnered up with children’s charity Barnardos to highlight the charity's amazing work with vulnerable children and families right around the country.
It's all part of the Making Spirits Bright campaign, which aims to raise much needed funds for disadvantaged children and families this Christmas.
Barnardos works with over 15,000 children and families every year and campaigns for the rights of children across Ireland.
Newstalk spent the week meeting the charity’s staff and volunteers to hear more about the Barnardos team, their challenges and the thousands of children they will support this Christmas.
#PODCAST: @kierancuddihy heads to the @Barnardos_IRL 'Breakfast Club' to learn about the service they provide for #children. Listen to the full podcast here: https://t.co/DmniIfVSk8 #BKNT #NTFM pic.twitter.com/DnCuKgLOPc
— Newstalk (@NewstalkFM) December 16, 2018
As part of the campaign, the charity’s new CEO Suzanne Connolly joined Ivan Yates on The Hard Shoulder to discuss her vision for the charity in the coming years.
“Our passion is about delivering effective family support services to children and families who really need us,” she said.
“They are the children who unfortunately are dealing with issues like substance abuse, domestic violence and acrimonious separation.
She said “one in-four or one-in-five children in Ireland” are in real need of the charity’s help – with donations paying for everything from children’s meals, early years support and parenting programmes to Barnardos’ work creating a welcoming environment for vulnerable children.
€20 helps a @Barnardos_IRL minibus make it's weekly journeys to bring children to and from their services. All this week Newstalk is highlighting the work of the charity, please donate what you can: https://t.co/d6muSA6BkD pic.twitter.com/HjMv1gWpCc
— Newstalk (@NewstalkFM) December 16, 2018
Barnardos was front-and-centre on Newstalk throughout the week and you can hear all about the hard work and dedication of the charity's workers by following the links below:
- On Monday, Newstalk Breakfast presenter Kieran Cuddihy went to Barnardos Dun Laoghaire where he heard all about the charity’s ‘Breakfast Club.’
- That evening, reporter Barry White headed out to the Millbrook Child and Family Centre in Tallaght.
- On Lunchtime Live on Tuesday, Barnardos project leader Olive Carter took Dr Ciara Kelly through the charity’s work with domestic violence survivors in Tipperary.
- That morning, Barnardos Bereavement Service project leader Gina Cantillon sat down with Pat Kenny to discuss her work with children who have lost those closest to them.
- On Thursday, reporter Barry White went behind the scenes at Barnardo's Family Support Service in Mulhuddart to highlight the fantastic work of its staff and volunteers.
- Later, Henry McKean met teen mum Chloe at Barnardos Family Support Service in Enniscorthy.
- Then on Friday, Henry visited St Helena’s Family Resource Centre in Finglas, where found out about the charity’s ‘Baby, Stay and Play’ mother and baby group.
- Bobby’s Late Breakfast finished out the week by talking to Family Support Worker about her work with children around the country.
You can support the charity and help bring a little light into the lives of some of Ireland’s most vulnerable children by visiting Newstalk.com/Barnardos following the link below:
