Advocating for families and communities in the North East

Gwen and Jackie attended the Citywide event in Memory of the Fergus McCabe Memorial Summer School on Monday 1st September 2025 in TU Grangegorman, Dublin.  The theme for the day was titled  ‘A Community Development Approach to Drugs – Why it’s still needed 30 years on’ – 1925-2025

The overall aims were to;

• consider and discuss the key learnings from 30 years of a Community Development Approach to Drugs
• to identify how we can build on the significant achievements to date of our Community Development Approach, while also addressing the current significant challenges to its implementation and how to respond to these challenges
• to set out a Plan of Action as to how we can ensure that the Community Development Approach to Drugs is facilitated, supported and resourced during the lifetime of the next National Drugs Strategy

Dr. Deirdre Lilis, President of the Technological University Dublin and Tony Geoghean, Chairperson Citywide welcomed the large attendance and Taoiseach Michael Martin T.D. gave his address by video link.

Opening words were from Gary Gannon T.D. Oireachtas Committee on Drugs and Aodhan O’Riordain MEP, engaging with EU Drug Policy followed by ‘A Poem for Fergus’ from the incredible Maureen Penrose.  Then followed presentations and discussions from Anna Quigley on the Key Issues emerging, Prof. Alex Stevens, School of Law, University of Sheffield and Senator Lynn Ruane, Dr Ian Marder, Maynooth University, Dr. Laura OReilly, Ballyfermot Star, and Prof. Aileen O’Gorman, University of West Scotland.

FASN is proud to bring the voice of families and communities to the government in a bid to reduce stigma, and empower communities to develop non judgemental, inclusive responses based in care and recovery.

We will keep you posted.

Gwen & Jackie