Last Friday, we had a very warm, inspiring, and incredibly meaningful meeting with two wonderful students from TUS Midlands Athlone — Erin and Oisín — who visited us at the Social Ground Force office in Sligo.
We are deeply grateful to both of them for taking the time to come. It truly meant a lot.
During the meeting, SGF CEO Aubrey showed them our Recovery Club, which is currently under construction, and explained how many people reach out to SGF each week. Since January 2025 alone, more than 200 people have contacted SGF directly for help.
Aubrey shared his personal recovery story and spoke about our plans to build Ireland’s National Suicide Prevention Network and a strong new Recovery Centre in Sligo — a safe and compassionate space for people healing from addiction.
Erin and Oisín were truly impressed by the work SGF has already completed and by the important projects now underway.
We discussed future cooperation in Athlone and across Ireland.
Erin emphasised how essential it is to have an immediate crisis-response service in Athlone, where many people — especially young people — struggle with addiction and often have no place to turn.
Together, we made the decision to expand SGF’s work in Athlone, and we sincerely hope to open a Social Ground Force office there in the coming months.
Right now, Erin is actively searching for a suitable premises for SGF in Athlone.
We also agreed to hold a joint SGF Awareness Event in Athlone in January 2026, where we will speak about prevention, addiction, recovery, and the life-changing work of Social Ground Force.
We are incredibly happy to collaborate with Erin and Oisín — two young, strong, compassionate leaders.
We deeply appreciate their sincere commitment to helping people who struggle with addiction in Athlone and across Ireland.
We are grateful to share the same goals, values, and vision.
We are endlessly thankful to them for their support and for their help with fundraising.
Erin is also involving students from TUS and other organisations, searching for volunteers, and already preparing a Christmas fundraiser in support of SGF.
