Mayo Children's Initiative

Manager - Helen Mortimer
Email:helen@mayochildrensinitiative.ie

Helen Mortimer has 25 years experience working in the domestic violence sector, as a women's support worker and assistant manager with Mayo Women's Support Services and as a trainer with Women's Aid, Dublin.

She has worked as an independent consultant to the voluntary, community and statutory sectors on the issue of violence against women and children. She has delivered training and facilitated seminars on domestic violence at local, regional and national level.

Helen previously worked with West Training & Development Support Agency as a Community Development Support Worker supporting the establishment of Family Resource Centres in Co. Mayo. She also worked as an educator with Ability West and ran a consultancy practice "Community Works" with a colleague, which provided support and supervision, strategic planning and evaluation to the voluntary and community sector. Helen currently lectures post-graduate students in NUIG on the issue of domestic violence among vulnerable populations.

Helen has a B.A. in English and Psychology, a B.A. in Education and Training and a Masters (first class honours) in Family Support (NUIG). She also has a H.Dip in Montessori Education and a Dip. in Counselling & Psychotherapy.

Helen is manager of MCI, having worked as co-ordinator of the project from 2005 - 2009. Her key areas of work include the day-to-day management of the project ; developing the profile of MCI locally and nationally; collaborating with agencies who can provide specialist interventions to children who experience domestic violence/abuse/family conflict; evaluating the results and the process of the project on an on-going basis to ensure a positive outcome for children in Mayo; sourcing funding to ensure the long-term sustainability of MCI.

Helen is a former chairperson of Sonas Housing Association (2004-2008), which provides supported transitional accommodation to women and children made homeless by domestic violence. She is currently the Chairperson of the Western Regional Advisory Commitee on Violence Against Women.

Project Worker - Stephanie Troy
Email: stephanie@mayochildrensinitiative.ie

Steph Troy trained as an art teacher at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin and since graduating almost twenty years ago has worked as an educator and a community art worker in Dublin and in Mayo. Over the years she has evolved as a strong group facilitator and developed a level of expertise in working creatively with community groups, and particularly with those focused on positive social change. She has worked over the years with many community development projects, including the CDPs in Parkside Ballina, Kiltimagh and Louisburgh. She has also co-ordinated the 'Schools Exhibition Scheme' for two years with Mayo Education Centre and has worked with both teachers and students helping them tap their creative potential. More recently Steph has been part of a group called Inspiration Station who work towards the development and advocacy of creative and innovative thinking in the county.
Steph has spent much of her career working with children and teenagers in educational and community settings and has been a passionate advocate of the importance of protecting and nurturing the creative potential of children and young people.
Currently with Mayo Children's Initiative, Steph's main responsibilities are co-facilitating the Helping Hands and the Protective Behaviours programmes in schools in Castlebar as well as designing and planning up and coming innovative projects alongside her colleagues in Mayo Children's Initiative.

Administrator - Ann Sweeney
Email:ann@mayochildrensinitiative.ie

Ann Sweeney is originally from Dublin and has worked in finance and administration for the past 28 years. She started her career in the private sector but after completing a Diploma in Counselling Skills with NUI Maynooth Ann was drawn to work in the community sector. She worked with the Local Employment Service in Ballyfermot for two and a half years and then joined Ballymun Regional Youth Resource which formed part of the Ballymun Regeneration Programme. Ann worked there for six years.

Ann has strong Mayo connections and decided to make a permanent move to live and work in Mayo in 2005. She has worked for various organisations in Mayo including Western Care, Mayo VEC and Kiltimagh CDP. Ann also has a Certificate in Business Studies from the National College of Ireland. Ann took up the position of part-time administrator with Mayo Children's Initiative in June 2009.

Project Worker: Rachel Browne
Email: rachel@mayochildrensinitiative.ie

Rachel Browne joined the MCI directly from ADAPT services, a specialist domestic abuse support service in Limerick city. Rachel worked within the child and youth service as a childcare key worker, where she carried out initial assessments of children’s needs in relation to their experiences of domestic abuse and designed support plans for individual families. Rachel also co-founded a personal development group open to young people aged 12-17 who wished to explore their experiences of domestic abuse.

Rachel graduated in 2005 with a BSc Hons in Psychology from the University of Stirling and in 2008 with a MSc in Evolutionary Psychology from the University of Liverpool. After graduating, Rachel spent time working with a number of different client groups, including those living with Traumatic Brain Injury, young adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and teenagers living in residential care. Rachel worked as a keyworker in these different areas, and learned a great deal around support planning and individualising programmes to meet specific needs.

Rachel’s role with MCI is to deliver the Protective Behaviours programme to children in County Mayo, through schools, youth groups and community projects. She will also work within the community to raise awareness around the effects of domestic violence and negative family conflict on children and young people. Through her work, she will aim to promote the rights and voices of marginalised children and work towards better outcomes for all children.