AS WE emerge from the Christmas season with increasing uncertainty and wonder what 2022 will bring, Adrian Dunbar, Patron of Aisling Centre in Enniskillen, is encouraging people to take the time out at the beginning of the year to attend the centre’s annual Hope, Healing and Growth event.

A regular contributor, Adrian has witnessed first-hand how audiences have been inspired by the experiences, reflections and learnings from previous years revealed at the event.

He urges people to take the opportunity to hear from an exceptional group of people, to be better equipped to face the challenges ahead from the lessons in hope to be taken from their extraordinary stories.

Hope, Healing and Growth – now in its fifth year – is a highly-successful and inspirational day that has become a beacon of hope in the annual calendar of events locally, regionally and, as the event moved to a virtual platform, across the world; in excess of 1,000 people attended the 2020 event.

‘Lessons in hope’ is the theme for the January 8 event, where, once again, the Aisling Centre has brought together an outstanding array of speakers, each with their own unique and personal story to tell.

Adrian, who will be closing the event with his personal take on lessons of hope, spoke about the value of the upcoming January 8 event.

He siad: “The whole subject of mental health has featured prominently throughout the course of the pandemic. In Northern Ireland we have also, as a society, been through levels of stress and instability unique in Western Europe. The legacy of the [Troubles] conflict is the background noise to many who are dealing with insecurity and depression.

“In rural areas, isolation has long been a problem, and the pandemic, I believe, has given us all a taste of how debilitating a lack of human contact can truly be.

“Aisling Centre, of which I am a patron, has identified the gap in our society for a caring, open and safe place to bring those hard-to-express feelings; feelings that may stop us from being part of the simple joy of being alive and vital.

“The day of Hope, Healing and Growth is open to all, with wonderful and uplifting testimonies from those of us who have been to some difficult places, and those who just want to share the possibilities of renewal,” he added.

The day of inspiration starts with Eileen Forrestal, a retired doctor, personal coach, author and entrepreneur, who will draw on her own story of transformation from her compelling new book, ‘The Courage to Shine’.

She will be followed by Jack Kavanagh who, after sustaining significant spinal injuries, completed his studies as a pharmacist, and is passionate about accompanying people on their journey of health, healing and self-leadership.

Also taking part is Jonny McCambridge, a father, journalist, blogger and author whose enlightening and powerful book, ‘Afraid of the Dark’, offers lessons of hope in his honest and personal telling of his story of depression.

Jonny will be followed by Mandy Chism, who tragically lost her beautiful daughter, Elle, to suicide at 16. She will share her own powerful story of a journey into hope, and her passion and purpose in the work she is now doing to support families and young people through the Hopeful Minds programme.

“Horses helping people find the answers from within” is the fascinating story Joe Slattery will be sharing on the day.

Joe is an experienced addiction counsellor and co-ordinator of the NorthStar Family Support Project in Limerick, and he will speak about the power of equine-assisted counselling in his work with families and young people.

The day’s final speaker, Melanie Grimshaw, will be known to many people in Fermanagh as an exceptional young woman who faced tragedy at the age of two, losing her older sister in a car fire, and facing up to her own life-threatening injuries to reach out and inspire and support others.

The Hope, Healing and Growth event takes place on Saturday, January 8 from 9.45am until 4pm. Registration for the virtual event is free via Eventbrite (at https://bit.ly/3Bayruk) .

There is also an option of giving a ‘gift of hope’ this Christmas – why not book ticket for a friend and make a donation to Aisling Centre on their behalf? This would be a special gift that will give twice!

All donations will directly support Aisling Centre’s counselling, psychotherapy and play therapy services; vital services supporting people who are struggling with difficult times in their lives, some of whom have lost all hope and may be seriously considering ending their lives.

For further information on the event, or Aisling Centre services, see www.theaislingcentre.com or contact the centre at 0286 632 5811.