Vision & Key Messages

The Family Resource Centre National Forum is the National Representative Body of all 121 Family Resource Centres in Ireland.

The National Forum of Family Resource Centres CLG trading as Family Resource Centre National Forum (FRCNF) is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. Established in 1998, the FRCNF is the national representative and peer support body of the 121 Family Resource Centres (FRCs) throughout Ireland. We seek to ensure the effective representation of the Family Resource Centres, the communities in which they work, and the Family Resource Centre Programme, Ireland’s largest national family and community support programme.

Our vision is that all children, families, individuals, and communities will actively participate and be included in a society that is equal, equitable, inclusive, and non-discriminatory and which will enable their optimal well-being.

Our mission is to support, empower and represent Family Resource Centres so that collectively we can deliver on our FRC Programme that creates and influences positive change in our communities. 

Our main purpose as per our Constitution is: To advance the health, well-being and education of families, children, individuals and communities in Ireland by working to ensure they have opportunities to participate in a Family Resource Centre in their Community.

VALUES
The FRC National Forum values are based on community development and family support principles. They are:

Equality and Human Rights
The work of the FRC National Forum is underpinned by a commitment to equality, human rights and the prevention of discrimination.

Social Inclusion
The work of the FRC National Forum is underpinned by a commitment to the realisation of the rights of all to be included and to participate fully.

Collective Action
The work of the FRC National Forum is underpinned by a commitment to collective action for positive social change.

Participation
The work of the FRC National Forum is underpinned by a commitment to the equal participation of all.

Climate Change and Climate Justice
The work of the FRC National Forum is informed by the challenges posed by climate change and climate justice and a commitment to explore the Sustainable Development Goals for application as appropriate.

Family Resource Centre Programme

The Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme is a national programme core funded by Tusla - The Child and Family Agency, which provides funding to 121 FRC's in Ireland.

The principal objective of the FRC programme is to combat disadvantage and to strengthen and empower children, families and communities to achieve the five National Outcomes.

The programme involves local communities in addressing the issues they face and creates meaningful partnerships for social change between voluntary and statutory agencies.

Through our Voluntary Board of Directors, FRCs work from community development principles. We are committed to ensuring that all children and families have equal rights to participate in society.

FRC National Forum Key messages

1. FRCs provide prevention and early intervention for the whole life course. Evidence demonstrates that this wrap-around support is the best way to create and sustain resilient children, families and communities.
2. The FRC programme is Ireland’s largest National Family and Community-based support programme. Each FRC is a not-for-profit independent legal company with its own Voluntary Board of Directors which aims to identify and address the needs within its own local catchment area.
3. Research shows that FRCs provide excellent value for money. Core funding provided by Tusla covers some of the operational costs. Additional operational and all programme costs are sourced by FRC projects elsewhere. This is currently the greatest challenge for FRCs in delivering for Government.

Through the National Forum FRCs work in a collaborative and collective way.