Merger plans for Foyle Haven

THE Londonderry-based organisation, Foyle Haven Day Centre, which was set up to provide help for street drinkers, is to amalgamate with another group from the Republic.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Dec 2010, 17:27 BST

The merger will be with leading national homeless charity, Depaul Ireland.

As of March 31 next year, Foyle Haven will operate as part of Depaul Ireland and continue to provide a day service to street drinkers in the city.

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Foyle Haven was established 10 years ago on the initiative of the late Paul Sheehey, who was a police Sergeant in the City, as an innovative response to dealing with the growing numbers of street drinkers in the City. It was originally operated on a voluntary basis to provide day services to street drinkers in Londonderry. The service has now expanded and currently supports around 30 people each day and the impact of these services on the health and well being of the street drinkers and on the City has been considerable. This growth prompted an internal review of the organisation which highlighted the need to ensure sustainability of Foyle Haven into the future as a major priority.

Announcing the amalgamation Foyle Haven chairwoman, Sr Catherine Boyle said: "After much deliberation the Foyle Haven Management Board decided that sustaining the services provided by Foyle Haven would be best achieved as part of a larger organisation which would have the professional backup services to support them.

"Depaul Ireland shares a similar vision and ethos to Foyle Haven and they have considerable expertise and professional working practices in relation to street drinkers. Depaul is part of international organisation and it is hoped that their knowledge and experience will benefit the wider street drinking/homeless sector in Londonderry."

Depaul Ireland CEO, Kerry Anthony, said: "Depaul Ireland welcomes the opportunity to work with Foyle Haven, who have considerable local knowledge of street drinking in the city and believe that the experience we have gained elsewhere will benefit the client group further. We will continue to work to ensure that services to some of the most vulnerable in Derry continue to be provided in the most professional and client centred way."

Foyle Haven is funded by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Big Lottery and Western Drug and Alcohol Coordination Team.