This article is from page 34 of the 2008-05-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 34 JPG
THE opportunities available through the family resource centre in Shan- non are set to dramatically expand, due to a number of key appointments in recent months.
That was the message relayed by the outgoing chairperson, at the an- nual general meeting last week.
Trish Fallon-Barry was replaced as chairperson by Greg Duff.
In her outgoing speech, Ms Fal- lon-Barry said the centre went “from strength to strength” during the past year.
“In many ways this was a year of transition. The year began with no co-ordinator in place, though we did have tremendous commitment from the voluntary board and the admin- istrator,’ she said.
She said that despite the absence of a co-ordinator, the work plan was completed with the assistance of some outside voluntary support and some paid consultancy work.
The appointment of an _ out-of- schools co-ordinator, a full-time co-ordinator and a part-time devel- opment worker will augur well for the centre and ultimately the entire community.
“With these staff in place for this year, the opportunities and work of the centre is expected to increase dramatically in the coming year,’ she said.
“The voluntary board underwent changes in membership due to vari- ous other commitments of individual members. However through success- ful active recruitment and training, the result is a much consolidated
board of directors committed to the work going forward,’ said Ms Fal- lon-Barry.
“Work has recently been done on the current plan and members of the board have visited at least one other centre and undergone various pieces of training,” she added.
She said that ongoing projects, in- cluding out-of-schools and parent- and-toddler groups, have continued to flourish at the centre.
A new homework club is also being initiated, under the auspices of the centre. This will cater for both set- tled and Traveller children.
‘The centre continues to support and foster the needs of the communi- ty by facilitating interest groups with use of rooms, while the Le Cheile In- ternational Club fosters the integra- tion of foreign nationals,’ she said.
“In the case of Le Cheile Interna- tional Club, the centre is not merely assisting with the provision of a ven- ue, but is grateful that much-needed Support and encouragement on the eround has been forthcoming from the co-ordinator Marie Rowland,” she added.
“Groups have been integrated pro- viding mutual support when possi- ble, for example, out-of-school chil- dren providing art work with various themes,” she said.