This article is from page 30 of the 2007-12-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 30 JPG
THE Brothers of Charity set up its Shannon branch two years ago and the move has improved the lives of several people.
Prior to its establishment in Shan- non, its service users travelled to En- nis every day and worked together as a group. Now, the 11 service users from Shannon and surrounding areas are afforded the opportunity to work individually towards ensuring their
aims and goals in life are realised.
“We support people in an individual way and that fits into our plans,” says the organisation’s Project Co-ordina- tor, Helen Minogue.
In response to the changing needs of its service users, the Brothers of Charity have re-focused it priorities.
‘We have stepped away from deliv- ering services as a group to a Service focused on individuals. We have to be much more flexible now than in the past.
“Instead of having one central building, we have an office in the Re- spond building and an apartment in Ballycasey and we are in the process of buying a house for respite,” says Ms Minogue.
“In opening the centre in Shannon, the service users are not going away from their local community on a dai- ly basis anymore. Times have moved on. We use the facilities of the com- munity to facilitate the service us- ers,” she adds.
“We try to help people realise their own dreams. Some want to travel abroad on holidays, while others want to go into the workforce.”
John McGuire’s success story in running his own wood business has been a direct result of the fantastic support offered by the Brothers of Charity in Shannon. But he is not alone, aS each service user benefits through the organisation’s individual- ised system in ensuring they achieve their own personal goals in life.