From October 1 the confidential service, which is free of charge, will open from 5-9pm every evening – replacing the current opening time of 6-10pm.
Connect provides professional telephone-based counselling to survivors of abuse at freephone:
- 1800 477 477 from the Republic of Ireland
- 00800 477 477 477 from Northern Ireland and the UK
Service Director Marie Percival said: “From engagement with service users and with staff, we have been told this slight change would better suit both groups – so we are applying it.”
“Connect offers an out of hours counselling service for survivors of childhood abuse. Callers get to speak with a trained Counsellor who can support and guide them.”
Connect was established in 2006 following demands from groups representing survivors of institutional abuse that an independent and professional out of hours telephone-based service be established.
Connect operated five days a week up to 2021 and has been operating a seven-day service since the start of 2022. The service is funded by the HSE, and there is more information at: www.connectcounselling.ie