Limerick's Children's Grief Centre up for Community Impact award

THE TIRELESS work of a Limerick nun to support grieving teenagers and children has been recognised by the Community Impact Awards.

Sister Helen Culhane, Croom, set up the Children’s Grief Project in 2009. It was renamed Children's Grief Centre as it is no longer a project. Located in Westbourne, Ashbourne Avenue, SCR, they have now seen over 1,000 children.

The awards celebrates the work of community and voluntary and charitable organisations, clubs and other nonprofit groups that have brought about positive change. 

Sr Helen said news of their nomination was a “lovely surprise”. The Children’s Grief Centre has been short-listed in the small organisations category. The winner will be chosen by public vote and a panel of judges so every vote counts.

The centre was in the midst of a “funding crisis” at the beginning of 2017. They had 120 young persons on their waiting list and the wait to be seen is eight to nine months. 

“Thanks to a €20,000 donation from the JP McManus Benevolent Fund the waiting list has been halved and the wait is three months now,” said Sr Helen, who adds that the only funding they get from the HSE is €4,100. The Mercy Sister also thanked Olive Foley, who said she will give €30,000 from the sales of a commemorative match day programme following the death of her late and great husband Anthony Foley.

To vote for the Children’s Grief Centre in the awards log onto charityimpactawards.ie/community.html The closing date is December 6.