The national Family Resource Centre programme is delivered by 121 Family Resource Centres (FRCs) across Ireland, supporting families in communities experiencing poverty and disadvantage. The national representative body for FRCs is the Family Resource Centre National Forum (FRCNF).

With the onset of the Covid-19 crisis, and subsequent economic and societal restrictions, FRCs moved quickly to adapt their services in response. Over the past 10 weeks, all FRCs – like thousands of organisations nationwide – have moved to remote working and online service delivery. Over the same period, demand for support from FRCs has significantly increased, and new needs are emerging on a day-to-day basis.

The FRCNF conducted a survey over the first two weeks of May to capture the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on Family Resource Centres nationwide; and to get deeper insights into the new needs that are emerging in relation to family and community supports. Seventy-five FRCs responded, representing 62% of all FRCs.