Cutbacks end men’s drop-in service

THE management of a Northside community service fears that vulnerable men will be put at risk as a result of unpopular cutbacks.

The Men’s Centre in Ballymun was recently notified that it would have to relocate from its current premises on Shangan Road at the end of the month.

According to Frank Rock, manager of the centre, they will not be able to continue to provide a drop-in service as a result of the move.

The drop-in service promotes social-reintegration of men in the Ballymun area who are marginalised and emotionally isolated because of factors such as unemployment, low paid employment or marital breakdown.

The centre also provides educational, training and skills courses.

According to Les Rock, development worker with the Men’s Centre, the service will now be provided from the offices of the Ballymun/Whitehall Area Partnership, which provides the funding for the service.

“The centre opened in 1998 and we spent our first 10 years practically in the lift shaft of a flat block on Shangan Road until we were moved to the Neighbourhood Centre building,

? he explained.

“It’s absolutely perfect for our needs and we have plenty of space.

“But as a result of this relocation we will lose our drop-in service because of reduced space and the location of our new premises.

“This will mean that people, some of whom suffer from all kinds of mental health issues, will have nowhere to go to meet people or have a cup of tea and a chat.

“These are vulnerable people who will now undoubtedly stay at home all day on their own with little or no social interaction. That’s the last thing we want.

?

He added:

“Meanwhile, our accommodation in the Neighbourhood Centre will be sitting there vacant.

?

Jimmy Boyd, who works in the Men’s Centre as part of a Community Employment scheme, knows first hand how important the service is.

“Even before I worked here I used to visit the drop-in centre,

? he told Northside People.

“It would be an absolute shame to lose that part of the service.

?

Ballymun man Mick Sullivan, who drops in to the centre up to five times a week, fears that a closure of the drop-in element of the service would have a devastating effect on the community.

“Over the years the centre has not only helped me but many other people,

? he said.

“I would go there quite often to get the lads talking about issues in the community, political issues and so on. It’s an extremely valuable social outlet and I would worry that the suicide rate in Ballymun would rise if the drop-in service closed because more and more people would feel isolated and alone.

?

The Ballymun/Whitehall Area Partnership is a limited company, funded by the Government with the aim of addressing social exclusion in the Ballymun, Whitehall and Ballygall areas.

A spokesperson for the Partnership said the decision to relocate the Men’s Centre was made in light of a 35 per cent cut in funding for the community sector.

“We were instructed by the Government to reduce administration costs so that we couldn’t continue to operate multiple offices,

? he stated.

“We have made alternative accommodation provisions for the Men’s Centre in our offices so that the centre will have its own front door from the Main Street, its own signage and adequate space to continue to provide its service.

“We have no other choice but to implement this cost saving. We wouldn’t be doing this otherwise as the Men’s Centre has worked as it was.

“These decisions have to be made and we are expecting to have to make even tougher decisions as we’ve been told to expect further funding cuts next year of between 11 and 22 per cent on top of the 35 per cent cut we’ve already had.

?