A worthy recipient of a Cork honour

Sheila Connolly has been named?Cork Person of the Month?in recognition of the invaluable service she provides in the support and rehabilitation of people who have been to prison, in her role as CEO of the Cork Alliance Centre.?

Since she began working with the Cork Alliance Centre in 2003, Sheila has played an instrumental role in the development and provision of a range of services that support people who have been to prison to make a “fresh start” and bring change into their lives. The organisation strives to reduce offending and increase positive participation in family and community life amongst service users. The centre aims to support people move away from crime and its associated behaviours.

On foot of securing this prestigious honour, Sheila very kindly took the time to answer a few questions from The Probation Service:

When did you first become involved with Cork Alliance Centre?

I have been involved in the Cork Alliance Centre since its inception in 2002. I had previously been employed to set up the Linkage Programme in Cork and realised that people needed more than the job and training or education on release from prison, this tallied with the work of the think tank of the Cork Alliance for Justice and Social Care which advocated for the Centre and when funding was approved, I was appointed to set it up.

What drew you to this kind of work??

For me, the draw has always been creating a better more connected society, grounded in understanding, kindness and seeing a person's worth.

Tell me about some of the services provided by Cork Alliance Centre.

Although each individual faces unique barriers, the common challenges facing many people re-entering their communities include addictions; poor education & training; poor accommodation options; poor mental health; and a lack of positive role models. The very real barriers that are not often mentioned are the ability, confidence, patience, and energy to deal with the system and society in general.? To survive life after prison, people need to have well-developed life skills, interpersonal skills, and social skills.? Our experience shows that these can successfully be practiced in a client-centred environment where a Rogerian approach of unconditional positive regard, genuineness, honesty, empathy, and respect are fundamental to the process.?

Probation was our first and remain our core funders. The working alliance is hugely important, we complement each other's work in supporting people to make the changes they need in their lives. Probation funding has allowed us to support people for as long as they need it, the desistance and recovery journey is neither straightforward nor seamless and people need individual support and time as they seek to create better lives for themselves.

What are some misconceptions you have encountered in relation to your work??

A job and a relationship fix everything, very often it can set people up for further failure until they have the opportunity to do the healing and recovery work necessary that comes with crime, addiction and trauma.? Without doing this healing and recovery work, sustaining employment is difficult and relationships can be unhealthy.

What do you think more people should know?

Nobody, no child is born bad, no child wants to be in prison when they grow up - it is our world, our society, our community, and our families that form us, and it is all of our responsibilities to provide a greater, safer space for everyone to live their potential and be the best version of themselves that they can be.

What is the most rewarding part of your work with Cork Alliance Centre?

Seeing people come back, and continue to try over and over again, facing the most difficult challenges, but hoping and striving to be better versions of themselves. Within this recognising peoples' successes along the way is fundamental. The joy comes from seeing people achieve more than they thought they were capable of.

What is the most challenging?

Not having enough hours in the day to be there for the people who are seeking support – we could easily have two more staff and still be working at full capacity. Also not having enough addiction treatment and mental health support beds across the country and in Cork means people end up in prison as an alternative to treatment, and that is simply wrong.

What would you say are the greatest challenges faced by those with convictions on return to the community?

We choose to continually hold people in a world they are trying to leave, we choose to close doors for them because of our fears and yet somehow, we expect them to face theirs.? We find it appropriate to continually punish someone for literally forever and a day, we chose that not them.?? If we want people to change, we have to allow it to happen.? So yes, we may have to dare to hope, and dare to trust, but change can only happen if we all dare, and we need to 'dare greatly'.??

Who would you nominate for the next Cork Person of the Month??

Frank Horgan, Needle Exchange Worker with the HSE in Cork City for the way he does his work on the streets with compassion, understanding and care.

Finally, can you describe how you'd spend your perfect day in Cork?

With our people – our people are our lifeblood, their commitment, effort, resilience, and brilliance never cease to amaze me. At the most vulnerable and shameful time in people's lives they let us in to support them and allow them to be the great people they are. Joy, love, tears, and laughter are all part of the day-to-day of the Centre and everyday people come in the door is a gift.

To round out our interview, Sheila kindly provided a poem by a Cork Alliance Centre client:

Beautiful person.

With a heart as bright as the moon,

passionate in her work,

without judgement.

Compassion is just natural in her big heart.

Too kind and strong for the negative energy and badness.

I know this Sheila gave me passion and strength not to be afraid to try,

and not to be afraid to fail,

that's what defines us as individuals.

I can't, I won't imagine life without the greatest person in my life.