In response to Taoiseach’s apology on behalf of the Government to survivors of institutional abuse, Barnardos wants to reach out to those affected to offer a free and confidential service The Taoiseach gave specific mention to those who had been boarded out as children and highlighted supports available through Barnardos.
Please call (01) 813 4100
In light of the Taoiseach’s apology on behalf of the Government to survivors of institutional abuse, with mention to those who had been boarded out as children, Barnardos Boarded Out Practical Support Service was mentioned as a free and confidential service available to people who have been impacted by those experiences.
The Barnardos Boarded Out Practical Support Service offers a free and confidential service to individuals who were boarded out, farmed out, fostered or nursed out as children prior to the 1991 Child Care Act.
The Service is aware that for so many people their experiences of being boarded out remains hidden and some people have never spoken about their childhood. The trauma of early separation from their mothers, and the subsequent experience of abuse, missed educational opportunities, forced labour, stigma and issues around identity associated with being boarded out can have lifelong consequences.
The service would like to reach out to those impacted by such experiences. Our service can offer support to those who need it, because childhood lasts a lifetime.
Barnardos has centres in Dublin, Cork and Galway, offering a wide range of practical supports to people who were boarded out.
The practical supports include:
- Support to access health, community and social services
- Support with isolation and loneliness
- Assistance in filling out forms and grant applications
- Advocacy, information and signposting
- Referral to Barnardos therapeutic supports through the Birth History Service
If anyone who was boarded out would like to avail of practical support, please reach out to Barnardos. The service is free and confidential and can be contacted in the following ways:
Email- [email protected]
Barnardos centres:
DUBLIN: Christchurch Square, Dublin 8 D08 DT63 and 23/24 Buckingham Street Lower, Dublin 1. Tel: (01) 813 4100
CORK: Blackmore House, Meade Street, Cork. Tel: (021) 203 8005
GALWAY: The Sanctuary, 27 Chois Chlair, Claregalway. Tel: (091) 454489
This happened mainly between 1920 and up to the introduction of the 1991 Child Care Act. There was also a practice of being nursed out and many children were boarded out on farms in rural areas (farmed out).
In light of the Taoiseach’s apology on behalf of the Government to survivors of institutional abuse, with mention to those who had been boarded out, farmed out or nursed out, Barnardos offers a free and confidential service.
Barnardos Boarded Out Practical Support Service for Adults include:
- Support to access to health, community and social services
- Support with isolation and loneliness
- Assistance in filling out forms and grant applications
- Advocacy, information and signposting
- Referral to Barnardos therapeutic supports
If you have experience of being boarded out and would like to avail of this service, you can contact Barnardos by phone, email or fill out the form on our website.
- Dublin: (01) 813 4100
- Cork: (021) 203 8005
- Galway: (091) 454489
- Email: [email protected]
- Confidential Helpline: (01) 454 6388 Tuesday and Thursdays from 10am to 1pm
