People who spent time in religious-run, state-supported institutions encouraged to contact Sage for support and advocacy.

Sage Advocacy has issued an invite to survivors of institutional abuse – to engage with its information and advocacy support services.

A nationwide team of Sage advocates support survivors to access information about services to which they are entitled. This service is open to all institutional survivors, who can contact Sage at 01 536 7330, or email info@sageadvocacy.ie. 

Sage Advocacy CEO, Bibiana Savin, said services are available to all survivors across the country. A person does not need to have previously received redress to access this support, and there are no age restrictions.   

“If you or any of your family or friends spent time in an institution such as an industrial or reformatory school, or Magdalene laundry, or a mother and baby home, or county home – the team at Sage Advocacy is available for you. We can help you to access supports you may be entitled to.

“Sage Advocacy’s nationwide team of advocates will support those who need it. It could be with a financial issue, a difficulty relating to your housing, or something medical, to name but a few.

“The trauma which survivors experience is life enduring and, in many cases, is revisited in older age, where survivors experience difficulties in getting appropriate housing or medical care. The fear of being re-institutionalised in congregated care settings such as a nursing home is real for many survivors.

“The relationship between the person and their advocate is one-to-one. The advocate has no other interest than to promote, support and defend each person’s voice and rights and will only take action that has been consented to by the survivor.

Sage Advocacy is the national advocacy service for older adults and survivors of institutional abuse. The service is free of charge and confidential, and Sage will act independent of family members, service providers and system interests; whether church, state or institutional. 

Supports for Survivors of Institutional Abuse Service Project Manager, Damian O’Farrell, said: 

“The survivors coming to us all have different life experiences. Many of those experiences have been very traumatic. While it is difficult for people without that lived experience to comprehend fully the ongoing effects of childhood trauma on people, our advocates are highly empathetic, caring and make every effort to be mindful of survivors’ experiences and their ongoing support needs.

“In recent months, Sage staff working on the ground across the country have noted public interest in the supports available and local business owners are encouraged to contact Sage requesting further display material. At the same time, Sage staff noticed a reluctance by survivors to come forward and avail of supports available. This is understandable considering past experiences.    

“While the idea of reaching out for support to any agency can be overwhelming for some survivors, the Sage Advocacy service is based around a person’s consent. So, making a first call does not mean the survivor has to commit to any involvement by Sage. When they do give consent for involvement by a Sage advocate, they can withdraw their consent at any stage.

“The people in the Sage Information and Support Telephone Hub feel it is a privilege to talk with each survivor who makes a telephone call and if someone doesn’t feel comfortable making that first phone call themselves, they can ask someone else they trust to make the initial call.”

The motto of Sage Advocacy is ‘Nothing about you/without you’.”

Ms Savin continued: “Our staff come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Staff are trained in trauma informed practice and safeguarding responsibilities and work to quality standards and to the Code of Practice for Independent Advocates.

“Our focus is to ensure survivors are supported to access all services that they are legally entitled to and to assist them in navigating complex issues such as housing, finances, returning home, decision-making and health and social care issues.”

To take a first step email: info@sageadvocacy.ie, or call 01 536 7330.

Sage Advocacy is funded from public sources, chiefly the HSE and the Department of Education, with additional funding from EU programmes and the Department of Justice.

Further information

Ronan Cavanagh, Cavanagh Communications: 086 317 9731 ronan@cavanaghcommunications.ie

See www.sageadvocacy.ie.

Sage Advocacy is the National Advocacy Service for Older People and Survivors of Institutional Abuse. It works to ensure that people have easy access to information, support, independent advocacy and safeguarding services in all settings: homes, day centres, respite facilities, congregated care settings / nursing homes, hospitals, hostels, hospices and in the process of transition between them.

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