On behalf of the staff and Board of Northside Partnership may we extend our deepest thanks and gratitude to all across the community and the community organisations, both near and far, that reached out to us over the last week, following the sudden passing of our dear friend and colleague, Karen Styles.

Karen was, in many ways, the heart of the Coolock office and touched upon the lives of so many people both within Northside Partnership and across the community. She was a wonderful human being who embodied the ethos and values of Northside Partnership in everything that she did. She loved working with us and never stopped reaching out to others across the community and across the partnership if there was an opportunity for us to help or support someone. Karen had found her vocation with us, was brilliant at what she did, and we are forever thankful that she chose to work with us in serving others.

It is heart-breaking to write of Karen in the past tense and the coming weeks and months will be hard for everyone here in Northside Partnership. Your messages of support have been truly heartening and have shown the best of community at this most difficult of times. In many ways you have been like the neighbours that came to offer support to a family in grief and our family is truly grateful for the warmth of your words and deeds as we slowly come to terms with Karen’s loss.

Ar dheis Dé go riabh a h-anam dílís.

Thank you all,

Paul Rogers,

CEO, Northside Partnership