As covid restrictions eased from February 2022, CASP were eager to reenergise our in-person services. Services such as key working, group work, counselling, needle exchange, family support, prison links and methadone dispensing clinics continued throughout the pandemic but there was a great energy and enthusiasm from both staff and service users to re-build the service post pandemic.

Women’s Group
CASP Women’s Group took place over 6 months from November 2021. The women who attended really enjoyed meeting weekly for discussions on addiction related topics, outings, women’s issues and an overnight to our respite house in Brittas.

Recovery Cafes
We opened up our first Recovery Cafe on the 21st of February from 6:30 – 8pm in the CASP building Fonthill Rd., Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
The aim of the recovery café is to provide a space for people in recovery and their supporters to celebrate recovery together. It is a venue for people to relax, eat some food, have tea and coffee and socialise with other people who are in recovery. We also want to make recovery more visible so that it can become a reality for more and more people.
Everything at the Recovery Café is completely free including hot dinner, tea, coffee and refreshments, in addition to monthly holistic therapies and live music.
Cocaine Anonymous, CA meets in CASP from 8pm on Mondays after the Recovery Café.

On May 4th, 2022, CASP began hosting a second weekly Recovery Café from 6:30 – 8pm on Wednesdays, followed by AA meeting afterwards from 8 – 9pm.
Come along for a friendly and relaxing evening in a really fun atmosphere!
Spread the word!!!

 

International Women’s Day 2022
On Wednesday, 9th of March, CASP celebrated International Women’s Day 2022. The theme for International women’s Day theme for 2022 was Break the Bias. People were encouraged to imagine a gender equal world, a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination, a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive, a world where difference is valued and celebrated.
This theme resonated with the ethos of CASP, and we were delighted to play our part in promoting women’s equality.

This free event was open to all women in the community. On the day, we had a hot cooked breakfast, angel card readings, holistic therapies, arts and crafts, one to one consultations with our nurse and inspiring female speakers . Tea, coffee and cakes were also available throughout the day!
The event was an amazing success! In particular, our two inspirational female speakers who spoke about their addiction and recovery journeys from their own and a family member’s perspective. The feedback that we got from this event was incredibly positive!

 

Saoirse Domestic Violence Clinic
On May 6th, Saoirse Domestic Violence Service opened a weekly walk-in clinic in CASP every Friday from 10am to 12pm for support and information.
For more information, call Corina on 0873935053 or email corina.brennan@sdvs.ie. For immediate crisis support, call the 24-hour helpline at 014630000.

Community Family Day
Our Community Family Day took place on July 27th after a two-year absence due to the pandemic.
Everyone in attendance enjoyed a range of fun activities including the BBQ, games, races, popcorn, slushy, candyfloss, ice-cream truck and the Bumblebee character which all the kids loved!!!

CASP Celebrates September Being Recovery Month
On September 28th, CASP hosted its Recovery event to mark September being Recovery month. It was an amazing day and evening.
The event featured an inspiring talk from a man who attends our Recovery Cafes about his own journey into recovery, a tree planting ceremony in Ballyowen Park, holistic treatments, a BBQ and an outstanding performance by Clondalkin Recovery Choir.
In the evening at our Recovery Cafe, we had live music, a powerful play and another BBQ to round off the event.
The aim of the event was to celebrate and support people in recovery and encourage others that there is happy and fulfilled life beyond addiction.

Homeless Outreach Clinic
From Thursday, 8th of September, Martina Birmingham, SDCC Homeless Outreach Worker began hosting a weekly clinic on site in CASP.
She provides support with applications for housing, HAP and if you are homeless, she will support you in accessing emergency accommodation.

Female AA Group
On October 6th, a new female only weekly AA group started in the CASP building, Fonthill Road, Clondalkin from 8:30 – 9:30pm.
The benefits of a women’s only AA meeting are:
• More time can be dedicated to talking about issues most common among women in addiction.
• Women can tell their stories and relate to other women.
• Women can talk about issues that they may not be comfortable sharing among men.
Like all fellowship meetings, AA is open to everyone who is looking to remain free of all mood and mind-altering substances and not just alcohol.

Welfare Advice and Information Clinic
From November 30th, Richie Mac Ritchie, Welfare Advice and Information Officer will host a monthly walk-in clinic in CASP to offer support, advice and information on social welfare entitlements. This monthly clinic will take place on the last Wednesday of every month on site in CASP, Clondalkin.

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
On Monday, November 28th at our premises on the Fonthill Road, CASP will be hosting our annual Tree Lighting Ceremony to remember our loved ones who have passed away often as a result of addiction and also to commemorate those that are continuing to struggle with their own or a family member’s addiction. The event is celebrated by switching on the Christmas lights on our outdoor Christmas tree, live music from Clondalkin Recovery Choir, Santa meeting the children in attendance and light refreshments. The event is very special and brings people in the local community together to support each other in the lead up before Christmas when loss and bereavement can be particular challenging.

Ongoing CASP Services
In addition to all of the above, CASP continue to provide a range of services to people who use substances and their family members including key working, group work, counselling, community prison links, holistic therapies, daily drop ins, homeless support (showers, laundry services, food), nursing care, on site methadone dispensing clinic and family support.
The CASP needle exchange service (Monday – Friday 9:30 – 1pm and 2 – 3pm) provides harm reduction information and new drug paraphernalia to people who are use drugs.
The family support team facilitate three separate support groups in addition to meeting family members individually. Family members can also access both our counselling and holistic therapy services.
We also have another service in the Mid-West, CASP Community Substance Misuse Team, CSMT which provides supports to young people and their families in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary.
If you would like support from CASP, please phone 01 6166750 for an appointment.

Or you can get in touch with us via our facebook page here.