Northstar Family Support Project supports families and friends in the Limerick City & County region affected by drug and alcohol misuse. Our team works alongside families, offering guidance, education and practical support to help them navigate a loved one’s addiction with confidence and hope.

Commitment

Our Commitment

We work alongside families in a respectful and non-judgemental way. We listen to your needs and support you at a pace that feels right for you. We provide information and guidance when it is requested, and aim to help you make sense of your situation and the supports available.

We treat everyone with respect and dignity.

Who We Support

We support parents, grandparents, partners, siblings, adult children and anyone affected by a loved one’s drug or alcohol use. You do not need to be in crisis to access our services.

Northstar History

The Northstar Family Support Project was established in 2010 in response to the growing need for support for families affected by substance misuse.

At the time, drug use was becoming more visible among young people in communities across the northside of Limerick City. Many families felt uncertain about how to respond, while support services available to them were limited or did not meet their needs.

Northstar was established by parents and community campaigners in response to these challenges, with support from local drug education workers Sean Ward and Anita O’Shea, in conjunction with the Mid-West Regional Drug and Alcohol Forum.

The service later achieved charity status and began receiving annual funding from the HSE.

Over the years, the project has continued to grow and develop. Originally based on the northside of Limerick City, the service is now located in the city centre and supports families across the wider Limerick City & its environs.

Since our establishment, Northstar has become one of Limerick’s leading organisations providing family support services for people affected by addiction.

Partnerships

Our Supporters

Annual Reports

As part of our commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance, we publish our Annual Reports to provide an overview of our activities, impact, achievements, and financial performance.

Participant Involvement

Northstar welcomes the involvement of former participants on the Board of Management and aims to include at least one former participant on the Board at all times.

To safeguard participants and avoid conflicts of interest, Board members who previously accessed support through Northstar or affiliated services must:

• not have accessed supports for at least two years
• have completed a personal development course, CASC, Family Support Training, or a relevant equivalent course available within the community sector in Limerick