Skylark Centre, May 2007

The Skylark Centre in Athenry is part of the Brothers of Charity Galway services for Adults with Intellectual Disability/Special Needs.

It is a new facility, purpose built and is situated in Raheen. Each day adults with Intellectual Disability travel from across County Galway and from Athenry itself to receive a day service here. This can include different therapies and training including: arts & crafts, drama, sensory therapy and communication programmes. There is also a training workshop programme where work is carried out for a local industry in the Raheen Industrial Estate.

Serious Lack of Funding

Like many services for the Intellectually Disabled/Special Needs there is a serious lack of funding. Many people from the Athenry area have no day service and remain at home on waiting lists. Also, the Athenry Centre has no dedicated respite service or residential house, which is very stressful for families who need a break. As parents get older they are worried about their adult child’s future.

Because if this, a group of family members recently formed the “Families and Friends of Athenry Skylark Centre for People with Special Needs”. The aim of the group is to support the centre’s current work, to lobby politicians and to fundraise for better services for those attending the Skylark Centre.

Fundraiser

A Table Quiz is to take place on Friday 25th May at 9 p.m. in The Fields Bar, Athenry in support of “The Families and Friends of Athenry Skylark Centre for People with Special Needs”.

Support

We would appreciate your support for this important cause on the night, and also if anyone is interested in joining the group or helping in anyway, they can contact the committee Chairperson Ethna Joyce at 086 8570360 or Secretary Catherine Wall at 0877678748

Thanks

All at the Skylark Centre would like to express their gratitude to the Athenry Community for all their support in the recent fundraising campaign for Special Olympics, “Road to China”. We successfully raised €588. The “Support an Athlete Campaign” would like to thank staff and management of Joyce’s Supermarket for their support on that day.

Birthday Celebrations

On the 30th of April we also had a big celebration as one of our service users turned 21. Our celebrations kicked off with outdoor activities and games, and in the afternoon we danced our socks off to the lively entertainment provided by Brian Mitchell — Cheers Brian – an enjoyable day for all involved.

This article was first published in News and Views May 2007