Riverview, a residential home for teenage girls, has been given a fresh look which really mirrors a family home environment.
Working with interiors experts Jo Linehan and Caroline Foran of Gaff Interiors and other local suppliers, DFS, a sofa retailer, has funded the project to give back to the Cork community.
A wonderful six-bed residential facility, it is essentially a shelter for teenage girls, aged between 15 and 19, who are out of home.
Riverview is under the umbrella of Good Shepherd Cork and in partnership with Tusla.
Allison Aldred CE of Good Shepherd Cork, said: “I am very impressed with how the business community has come together to help support our work with young people. Riverview provides emergency and planned accommodation for teenage girls within a caring and nurturing environment.”
She added: “I would like to commend all of those who have worked together to make this makeover a reality. Thanks to all the staff and young people in Riverview for their enthusiasm for the project, to DFS, Gaff Interiors and other local suppliers who have worked to make Riverview a home away from home and to ESB and Cork City Council for funding towards the refurbishment.” She said it was great to see businesses taking responsibility in the local community so thanks to sofa retailers DFS for supporting the makeover.
There are four under-18 beds and two over-18 beds.
At 16 years of age it is very difficult for a young person to be out of home and cared for by strangers but with the right supports, early social work intervention and interim crisis care, Riverview can become the first step on the road to seeing a young person fulfilling her potential.
It is the only service in the county providing this kind of support.
Jo Linehan from Gaff Interiors said: “Gaff Interiors really believe that where you live really impacts on your mood and how you feel, so I’m really excited about what we have achieved together with this makeover project.
“Both Caroline and I believe that Good Shepherd Cork offer an invaluable service to the community of Cork. Homelessness is a cause very close to Gaff’s heart. As a Cork woman, I am honoured to be able to aid such an important charity and to help improve the lives of the young women living here to make this house somewhere even more special,” she said.
John Kelly, DFS Ireland Manager said that DFS was honoured to have supported this great makeover at Riverview.
He added: “We have been part of the fantastic Cork community for over five years now and have happily supplied sofas to thousands of homes throughout the Region. We truly understand the benefits of a comfortable home and so giving back to the city, in this way, has been a privilege. Working alongside the terrific staff and some great local businesses like Kitchen World, DLB Electricity, Delforno Tiles and Timber, it’s been a real team effort.”
Source: http://www.corkindependent.com/news/topics/articles/2018/03/28/4154028-makeover-at-good-shepherd-corks-riverview-project/