Mr. Michael Mason:

Family Addiction Recovery Ireland, FARI, is the new national organisation which supports anyone affected by someone else’s alcohol or drug use in Ireland, whether that person is still actively using substances, is in recovery or the concerned person is bereaved. We give information and support to family members and we link them to available family support services and, where available, local peer family support groups. We also help people recognise and understand the importance of looking after, and caring for, themselves.

As mentioned in the briefing document, we are a collective of service providers and voluntary individuals with vast experience of delivering evidence-based interventions to both individuals and groups, including peer family support over a number of years. We came together following the sudden demise of the previous national family support organisation, to ensure the continuance of a national voice supporting families.

When we say "family", we mean those who people see as their family. It could be their partner, parent, child or grandchild, sibling, friend, colleagues or neighbours, or anyone else we might have missed.

FARI’s work is underpinned by our five outcomes: that families are heard, supported, included, connected, and that families create change. Our vision is that families impacted by problem substance use are supported in a meaningful and effective way that enables whole family recovery. Families’ experience and knowledge is part of the recovery agenda and is integrated into the decision and policy making structures. FARI represents them in those structures as equal partners. FARI’s aim is to provide strategic and operational direction and leadership across all aspects of family support service work. For us as a new organisation, this involves ensuring effective governance, reporting and accountability, which is why we are at present in the process of establishing the organisation as a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.

Since the closure of the National Family Support Network, we have endeavoured to be the voice of families in this critical period of Irish drug policy. In 2023, we were requested to represent families at the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use, where we effectively contributed to the discussions, as an organisation and individually, which we believe led to recommendations 14 and 22. FARI supports the full implementation of these two recommendations and all 36 recommendations of the citizens' assembly.

In 2024, FARI was part of the lived experience stakeholders for the evaluation of the national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017-2025. Six recommendations around lived experience came from that evaluation and again, FARI believes we were part of that.

FARI organised an all-Ireland family support conference, Trauma in the Community, over two days in Dundalk in September 2024, in conjunction with FASN, with a small amount of funding granted to the Family Addiction Support Network from the Department of justice. Over 250 people attended, representing peer family support and service providers from all across the Thirty-two Counties of Ireland. A report of all the findings from the three world café round table discussions was collated following the conference. There were six recommendations from the participants at the conference: establish a national family support co-ordinating body, FARI; the expansion of trauma-informed care training for service providers and families; enhance availability and access to mental health services; support peer-led initiatives, diversion programmes for at risk young people and financial resources for respite and safe places for families under threat; target young people’s exploitation and grooming by drug gangs - it is a constant stressor for families, resulting in family breakdown; and an awareness campaign to reduce stigma and encourage those impacted by addiction to seek support, which is a significant factor for families accessing support.

Following the conference, FARI was launched as the new national body representing family support. Since then, FARI has printed full and executive summary reports of the conference and we can provide PDF copies to anyone who requests them. We are also, in conjunction with Citywide and Uisce, organising the first national service of commemoration and hope for bereaved families since before Covid in the Mansion House on 11 October.

We will have robust financial management and stewardship, maximising resources, including funder development and engagement. We will sustain and strengthen the range of services and programmes available to families such as the five-step method, CRAFT, bereavement support, and quality standards in facilitation of family support groups. We champion family rights and the role and contribution of families to services, campaigning for wider system and service changes and better outcomes for whole-family recovery through policy and practice.

We will oversee-----