We’re delighted to share that the SCOPE Project (Student-led Community Outreach for Pain Education and Engagement) is one of the winners at this year’s University of Limerick’s Engage Citizens’ Assembly! In partnership with Chronic Pain Ireland and local organisations, including Ballyneety Men’s Shed, the project will develop a pilot “Pain Café”, a supportive space for older adults living with chronic pain while also giving students valuable hands-on experience. This is a fantastic example of community collaboration in action!
Pain Cafés are informal sessions held in community spaces, offering education, peer support, and opportunities for social connection. The project will use co‑design methods to shape the Pain Café model, with the input of Chronic Pain Ireland. The project also supports student learning as students from Allied Health, Medicine, Nursing and Psychology will deliver educational and engaging activities, while also developing their own communication and therapeutic skills with people living with pain. The co-design phase will commence in Autumn, while the pilot pain café will run in Spring 2027.
Congratulations to all involved, including Karen McCreesh and Steven Byrne (SAH), Nóirín Nealon (School of Medicine) and Dympna Tuohy (School of Nursing & Midwifery) in partnership with Chronic Pain Ireland and our Chair Martina Phelan.
We look forward to seeing the positive impact this initiative will have across the community.
