Madeline McAleer

Over the last 25 years, Madeline McAleer has worked with, provided training sessions and completed funding applications for a number of community groups in Clare e.g. Clare Haven Services, Clare Family Resource Centre, Disabled People of Clare, Irish Refugee Council / Clare Immigrant Support Centre, Ennis Community Development Project and Haven Horizons. Madeline was the co-founder of the Clare Family Resource Centre, the first community childcare centre in Clare. Madeline completed the successful application for capital funding for the purpose built community crèche.When working as the project development officer with Clare Haven Services, refuge accommodation and comprehensive outreach services for victims of domestic abuse in Co. Clare were established. Working in Clare Haven Services involved building positive interagency relationships and working closely with An Garda Síochána.

Madeline is currently the Research and Development Director of Haven Horizons. Haven Horizons focuses on domestic abuse prevention; providing awareness sessions and education / training modules and promoting international models of best practice which change public attitudes and professional responses to domestic abuse.Haven Horizons is currently working with local and national Gardaí to establish Co. Clare as the Demonstration Division for the St. Paul ‘Blueprint for Safety’ model of domestic abuse prevention, which involves greater collaboration between police, prosecution services, court services, advocacy groups, prison and probation services to close the gaps in the criminal justice system.