Issue Date: 21st December 2021
Gardaí in the Cavan Monaghan Division have implemented community engagement initiatives over the last number of days, which aim to provide reassurance to vulnerable members of the community and to support people in hard to reach areas through engagement and high visibility.
The initiatives also encouraged young people from diverse backgrounds to interact with An Garda Síochána at a time when the organisation is embarking on a recruitment campaign to increase diversity across An Garda Síochána.
Gardaí in Bailieboro, Cavan, Carrickmacross and Monaghan Districts distributed Christmas cards and selection boxes to vulnerable members of the community and those with young children. The Christmas Card was designed to contain contact details for support services.
As part of the initiative, local Gardaí met with a number of different groups including: Syrian and Roma families and their coordinators, the Holy Family School in Cootehill, Tearmann Domestic Abuse Service in Monaghan, and Teach Na Daoine, Family Resource Centre, Monaghan. They also attended the Foodbank for children in Carrickmacross.
Gardaí dressed in uniform swapped their uniform hats for Santa hats to help break down potential barriers or fears which can sometimes exist with the presence of a uniform.
An age friendly strategy has also been implemented across the Cavan Monaghan Garda Division. This saw the delivery of a Christmas card together with mince pies in a Covid friendly manner to nursing homes and to Drumkill Alzheimer’s Group.
What made this initiative unique was the collaboration and partnership with secondary schools in Monaghan who made the Christmas Cards and with third level students in Cavan Institute who made the mince pies. This connected the young and elderly across the Division.
Liaison also took place with local meals on wheels groups to assist with delivery of the Christmas cards and mince pies to the elderly. Minister Heather Humphries supported the initiative and was present at a number of the handovers with Gardaí.
Gardaí in Monaghan and Cavan are now planning further initiatives like this going forward as part of their Divisional age friendly strategy. This will see Gardaí in Monaghan delivering LED lights to elderly members of community some of whom are living in isolated areas. Crime prevention information will also be delivered including advice in relation to unexpected callers. This will begin in January 2022 and will give Gardaí an opportunity to check in with vulnerable members of the community after the Christmas period.
Gardaí would also like to encouraging the public to check in on their neighbours over the festive period and in particular those who may be living alone.
