Ray Lucey | Changing Ireland

About The Author

Ray Lucey has reported for 'Changing Ireland' since 2014, covering an array of topics from men's sheds, integration, mental health and Travellers to general news and interviews.

Ukrainian support worker helping refugees in Offaly to find jobs

Posted by Ray Lucey | Nov 10, 2022 | Community

In response to the current refugee crisis, increased funding was allocated to the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) earlier this year. Local Development Companies have used this funding to recruit Ukrainian speakers to work as development workers.

Many Ukrainians in Offaly have now found jobs or have enrolled in courses due to the appointment of Svitlana Osmachko as a Ukrainian support worker with Offaly Local Development Company (OLDC).

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Offaly support workers get calls from around the world

Posted by Ray Lucey | May 11, 2022 | Health

The increase in domestic violence during lockdowns and the murder this year of a woman while out jogging, in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, led to a national enquiry about gaps in the level of support provided to women at risk of violence.
Offaly Domestic Violence Support Service was set up in the aftermath of a previous deadly incident in 1997 and it does remarkable and mostly unseen work supporting female and male victims.
Here, Ray Lucey speaks to manager Anne Clarke.

West Cork’s domestic violence service publishes unique newsletter

Posted by Ray Lucey | May 11, 2022 | Health

Recently, West Cork Women Against Violence (WCWAV) published the 80th edition of their ‘West Cork Whisper’ newsletter.
It is immensely practical, thoughtful and clearly laid out and the publication is useful to any and all working / volunteering in the domestic violence sector – no matter where in Ireland you are.
This is not only because the ‘West Cork Whisper’ is the only one of its kind published in the country, but because of the quality of the content.

New centre tapping into spirit of volunteering in Offaly

Posted by Ray Lucey | May 10, 2022 | Activism & Volunteering

Offaly Volunteer Centre officially opened its doors at Bury Quay, Tullamore, on Friday, March 4th. As chairperson Martin Buckley, founder member of Pullough Community Shop which recently won the ‘Unsung Hero of Offaly’ award, said, “The future of Offaly volunteering is well and truly established and I am proud to be part of something that is outstanding.”

Kerry’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Fest went ahead despite restrictions

Posted by Ray Lucey | Nov 19, 2020 | Health, Inclusion

EXCERPT: “The feedback we got back from the public was great because we had to change a lot of things this year.”

Author: Ray Lucey