What’s on at MQI? Brendan Magee Merchants Quay Message from How to Double page 2 Graduates, page 3 Scholarship Fund, page 3 Tony Geoghegan, page 4 Your Donation, page 4 QQuuaayy TTiimmeess The Newsletter for Supporters of Merchants Quay | Autumn 2010

scene ya know, experimented in “That Was When I Was Young trying heroin.” and Innocent…” Heroin is one of the most addictive drugs available. In the Liam’s story is one every parent fears. And with span of 180 days, Liam was smoking 15,000 people across Ireland who are caught in heroin every day. “One day I woke heroin’s grip, it’s all too real. Read how it’s turning up I was vomiting, shivering, bleeding. It had a hold on me.” out, thanks to you: He was injecting by 19, to a point “That was when I was young and where he “had no veins left.” He innocent,” Liam begins. “We used to robbed and was homeless for “three go down to Seapoint, Dun Laoghaire or four years, in and out of hostels. baths. I used to love swimming….” Being on the street definitely His story is one every parent increased my drug use.” fears. “I grew up too fast. Hit me With nowhere to turn, he came to teens, like. The ecstasy and smoking Merchants Quay for meals. “I used hash and I just tried to be part of the to go into the drop in-at 7.30 when they opened for breakfast, just “I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for around the corner from the needle Merchants Quay Ireland. I’m very exchange.” Then a staff member grateful for people who have helped helped Liam get on our Stabilisation out.” Thank you! Programme (see story below). He’d

Liam, pictured at left, learned new computer skills at MQI sought help before, but the continued on page 4 >>

MQI’s Stabilisation Programme: Behind the Scenes with David and

MQI: Can you tell us about the in from another part of the A chat with Stabilisation Programme? country. So before they can move in any other direction in their Team Leader Maeve Maeve: People are chaotic lives, we have to try and O’Callaghan and sometimes when they approach stabilise their drug habits, their Assistant Supervisor us. Some of them can be living habits, their life skills. David Sherry, of homeless and looking for a space That’s the whole point of Merchants Quay’s to connect in with, some can be stabilisation. It keeps them on in apartments and are sorted in the level – connected with us, Stabilisation that direction but not sorted in connected with doctors, Programme. their addiction levels. Some come continued on page 3 >>

Merchants Quay uses your donations wisely. See how, page 2...

www.mqi.ie A hot meal. A good home. A better life. Because of you.

What’s On Brendan Magee Graduates…Again! How Will You Be at MQI? ou may remember Remembered? Read All About It: Brendan Magee from our October 2009 Newsletter. eaving a gift in your will to Y • Just Released: 2009 Annual He overcame his heroin addiction Merchants Quay Ireland is a once Review reveals a ‘rising tide of by availing himself of all MQI in a lifetime chance to see that L desperation’ for people who are offers – ‘graduating’ from a cup of the homeless and those who struggle to overcome addiction have homeless; to read the review go tea and needle exchange to somewhere to turn for help, even after you’re gone. to www.mqi.ie residential rehabilitation and And for your kindness, we’ll always remember you. To learn • MQI on Facebook: Listen to client interviews and get the recovery. He got a place in college, how easy it is to leave a legacy gift to Merchants Quay, ring latest media updates on completed a Certificate in Drugs Denisa on 01 524 0115. Merchants Quay’s Facebook Page Counselling and took up work • Drug-Free Pilot Programme: guiding others on their way to a New day programme offers MQI’s Stabilisation would have missed out on things drug-free life. Now he’s graduated ongoing structure, education and in secondary school level. The again, officially: he’s received his Programme... counselling for clients who (continued from front page} emphasis is always on personal recently completed drug rehab Diploma in Drugs Counselling development. There are loads of • Scholarship Fund to help Theory and Intervention Skills. projects, visits to art galleries, keep education within reach for Building on this he has now taken education programmes. The local clients, page 3 on a full time degree course in Former MQI client Brendan Magee (left) is all smiles after receiving his diploma employment services know we are • New Aftercare House in Social Science with University Leixlip: Grows capacity by 200%; here now. Stabilisation is a process College Dublin. He will graduate (To read Brendan’s full story, visit ‘News and Events’ on our website at provides six more places for of listening and trust and aftercare housing and support in yet again in 2012. Well done, www.mqi.ie, then scroll down for the October 2009 Newsletter, “From confidence building. a drug-free environment Brendan! Heroin Addiction to Academic Honors.” Or call us, we’ll post you a copy.) • Addiction Counselling MQI: Are there any people that Services Contracted by Irish really stand out in terms of Prison System: Merchants Quay to reach 1,000+ counselling hours Introducing the change from when they came per month in new four-year through the door? programme Merchants Quay Scholarship Fund Maeve O'Callaghan, helping a client in the Stabilisation Programme Maeve: Jessica (not her real name) When government cuts meant less money for school and job training, connected with any other teams to was here nearly two, two and half MQI clients and staff were left without needed funds to continue their make sure they are looked after. years. She refused to take a chance How Your and go outside and show what she Donations Are education. See how, with your help, a new scholarship fund is bridging MQI: What life skills are they was made of. It was a major thing the gap. learning? for me that Jessica would be able Wisely Used: to share the skills she had with Fundraising 4% David: Well what Maeve said, the other people. Now she has moved he newly established courses must be aimed at job training is becoming harder to word ‘structure.’ The skill learned on to work experience and she Admin 9% Merchants Quay building on-the-job skills to find. We don’t want anyone who first is to get up and get does not want to come back. She’s TScholarship Fund will better help the homeless and has worked hard at getting their somewhere; have a reason to get using the skills that she has provide help with tuition fees so those with addiction problems. life on track to be stalled by a lack up in the morning. Every month learned, which is brilliant. clients can continue their “With all the government of funding.” there is a different programme. 87% education, taking FETAC- funding cuts,” said Denisa For more information or to Life skills would be tied in with David: She even sounds different Services accredited courses geared Casement, Merchants Quay donate to the Merchants Quay relapse prevention and say very on the phone, doesn’t she? It’s toward employment. For staff Ireland’s Head of Fundraising, Scholarship Fund, ring us on basic maths. Some say they got fabulous. When you see it you say and volunteers, accredited “money for further education and 01 524 0160. involved in drugs young, and they ‘Wow. People can change.’ Thank you for caring.

2 www.mqi.ie www.mqi.ie 3 For all you do, thank you.

A Message From Tony Geoghegan… New Extended Day Service Helps Those With Nowhere to Go ‘After Hours’

wrote you in our spring by Focus and MQI. The exchange, primary health newsletter that the Homeless service is: care and assistance in IAgency had identified a need • Free and available to accessing hostel. for homeless services operating in anyone regardless of Together with Focus the greater Dublin area during the age, gender or Ireland, and through evening time, in particular after 5pm. nationality your kind donations, In the works was a joint effort • Reaches those who Merchants Quay are between Merchants Quay Ireland need help most pleased to be reaching and Focus Ireland to launch a including rough Tony Geoghegan out to men, women and three-month pilot programme that sleepers, those without 24 hour families who, before EDS, had would, for people experiencing hostel accommodation, and nowhere to go in the evenings. homelessness, bring Extended Day individuals and families in crisis We’ll update you on the progress, Services to Dublin city centre. • Offers a safe place off the and if you’d like a tour of EDS Thanks in large part to your streets in the evenings to please ring us on 01 524 0160. support of Merchants Quay, that homeless people – the young, programme is now reality. adults with and without Thanks for helping make it The Extended Hours Day Service children, those with and without all possible, (EDS) is open from 4.00pm to addiction issues, and people 8.30pm weekdays and based in from new communities Focus Ireland’s premises on • Provides emergency advice, hot Tony Geoghegan Eustace Street and jointly staffed food, toilet facilities, needle CEO, Merchants Quay Ireland

Coming to a mail slot near you: Young and Innocent... computer. But before I started here (continued from front page) I couldn’t turn on a computer. Me Double Your Ma and me Da, they even say they Donation... Merchants Quay programme are proud of me now.” No Extra Cost to You! marked a turning point. “It put a His next step is Merchants Now through 31 December, your great structure in my day. Quay’s drug-free rehabilitation generosity doubles – and does Stabilisation helped me move on programme at High Park. There’s a double the good – every time you from where I was.” waiting list, but he rings every give to Merchants Quay Ireland: A long-time supporter is For Liam, stabilisation meant Friday. “I want to learn stuff I left generously offering a €50,000 getting referred through MQI to a behind because when you are on Challenge Grant over the holiday safe, temporary accommodation. drugs for so long, like you are season. Every euro you give this Eventually finding a permanent blind to a lot of stuff as well,” he Christmas will automatically double, starting now through place to call home. Training says, then softly adds, “I wouldn’t 31 December, up to €50,000… courses in art, literacy, maths, and be here now if it wasn’t for at no extra cost to you. computers. “I bought a little Merchants Quay. I’m very grateful Please watch your post for more netbook…it’s only a small for people who have helped out.” details… or give, and double your kindness, today. Thank you!

Merchants Quay Ireland Located at: Head Office: 01 524 0160 P.O. Box 11958 28 Winetavern Street Fundraising: 01 524 0115 Dublin 8 Dublin 8 Volunteering: 01 524 0128 4 www.mqi.ie