Special Hands Activity Group
Special Hands Activity Group is a community group based in Co. Meath.
We are a community and voluntary group which is led by the parents of our members. We organise activities and social events for children & young adults who have additional needs. We also offer support for the parents, siblings and families of our members.
As per our AGM the current Structure is as follows:
Chairperson - Alva Cullen
Secretary - Helen Rush
Treasurer - Varsha Matreja
Events Coordinator - Theresa Olohan (18+) Sandra Allen (u18)
Vetting Officer - Helen Rush
Designated Liaison Officer - Assumpta Kelly
Complaints Officer - Yvette Bloomfield
CURRENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Alva Cullen, Helen Rush, Varsha Matreja, Theresa Olohan, Assumpta Kelly, Yvette Bloomfield, Sandra Allen, Fiona Casey, Linda Farrell, Karen Kinahan,
Mandated Persons for Welfare, Protection & Children's officers are
Alva Cullen, Helen Rush, Theresa Olohan, Assumpta Kelly, Yvette Bloomfield, Sandra Allen, Fiona Casey, Linda Farrell, Karen Kinahan, Miriam Morris
About Special Hands
Established in 2002, Special Hands Activity Group is a registered community and volunteer led group. Our registered charity number is CHY 15635.
Our members are from a wide geographical spread across the counties of Meath, Cavan, Louth and Westmeath.
Special Hands Activity Group is unique in its achievements and work plan. We started as a support group to parents of toddlers with Additional Needs and over the years we have grown and flourished. We continue to be recognised as a much needed and respected, sporting, social and support group in Ireland.
Our members range in age from pre school age to adults. Working within our communities, we support and advocate for all our members at all stages of their lives, offering support and encouragement to help our members achieve their personal goals.
We continually have new members referred to us by the HSE and word of mouth. We are always looking for ways in which we can support and encourage families who are new to the group.
Since 2002 we have provided courses for parents to support and encourage them on this Journey. We have very successfully organised self improvement courses, wellness workshops, mindfulness courses and coping strategies workshops. We also organise training in Safeguarding and First Aid.
We offer a variety of activities annually through camps in which the siblings of the children and young adults in our group are invited to participate. Siblings are also encouraged to take part in certain activities and events organised for our members.
The Activity Club is for our members with additional needs and it currently has over 100 children and young adults on its register and the enquiries for new membership continues.
The Charity is funded through grants, donations and fundraising and is ran completely voluntarily by a core group of parents of our members. As it can be very difficult to obtain services in other areas such as, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, Special Hands Activity Group is now more important than ever to our members because of the variety of activities and inclusion we offer.
Young people with Additional Needs require extra time to learn a skill. Special Hands Activity Group gives them all the time in the world in a variety of settings. Our continued funding will mean we can grow our membership and expand our work plan.
Tax Reg No. 9619565
We are a community and voluntary group which is led by the parents of our members. We organise activities and social events for children & young adults who have additional needs. We also offer support for the parents, siblings and families of our members.
As per our AGM the current Structure is as follows:
Chairperson - Alva Cullen
Secretary - Helen Rush
Treasurer - Varsha Matreja
Events Coordinator - Theresa Olohan (18+) Sandra Allen (u18)
Vetting Officer - Helen Rush
Designated Liaison Officer - Assumpta Kelly
Complaints Officer - Yvette Bloomfield
CURRENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Alva Cullen, Helen Rush, Varsha Matreja, Theresa Olohan, Assumpta Kelly, Yvette Bloomfield, Sandra Allen, Fiona Casey, Linda Farrell, Karen Kinahan,
Mandated Persons for Welfare, Protection & Children's officers are
Alva Cullen, Helen Rush, Theresa Olohan, Assumpta Kelly, Yvette Bloomfield, Sandra Allen, Fiona Casey, Linda Farrell, Karen Kinahan, Miriam Morris
About Special Hands
Established in 2002, Special Hands Activity Group is a registered community and volunteer led group. Our registered charity number is CHY 15635.
Our members are from a wide geographical spread across the counties of Meath, Cavan, Louth and Westmeath.
Special Hands Activity Group is unique in its achievements and work plan. We started as a support group to parents of toddlers with Additional Needs and over the years we have grown and flourished. We continue to be recognised as a much needed and respected, sporting, social and support group in Ireland.
Our members range in age from pre school age to adults. Working within our communities, we support and advocate for all our members at all stages of their lives, offering support and encouragement to help our members achieve their personal goals.
We continually have new members referred to us by the HSE and word of mouth. We are always looking for ways in which we can support and encourage families who are new to the group.
Since 2002 we have provided courses for parents to support and encourage them on this Journey. We have very successfully organised self improvement courses, wellness workshops, mindfulness courses and coping strategies workshops. We also organise training in Safeguarding and First Aid.
We offer a variety of activities annually through camps in which the siblings of the children and young adults in our group are invited to participate. Siblings are also encouraged to take part in certain activities and events organised for our members.
The Activity Club is for our members with additional needs and it currently has over 100 children and young adults on its register and the enquiries for new membership continues.
The Charity is funded through grants, donations and fundraising and is ran completely voluntarily by a core group of parents of our members. As it can be very difficult to obtain services in other areas such as, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, Special Hands Activity Group is now more important than ever to our members because of the variety of activities and inclusion we offer.
Young people with Additional Needs require extra time to learn a skill. Special Hands Activity Group gives them all the time in the world in a variety of settings. Our continued funding will mean we can grow our membership and expand our work plan.
Tax Reg No. 9619565
Our Involvement in our Community
Along with organising activities our committee members are involved in projects which we are very proud to be part of. Our aim is to continuously strive to enhance both infrastructure and services for our members.
One parent has worked in partnership with clothing designers from Dunnes Stores to design a range of clothes for children with additional needs. This clothing line is available on www.dunnesstores.com/c/kids/highlights/additional-needs-clothing
We have worked with the Changing Places Committee under the auspices of Inclusion Ireland. The Changing Places initiative is to build proper changing facilities in public places. Special Hands Group has been involved with the new Changing places in Kells Swimming Pool as well as the Changing places in Athboy CCC
A committee from the Special Hands Group are proud to have worked with Meath County Council to upgrade Kells Swimming Pool. The pool has been made more accessible for people with a disability and the wider community.
Kells Playground was recently refurbished and is now disability friendly thanks to the significant input from one of our parents.
Our Committee members have met with the Minister for Health, the Minister for Disabilities and the Minister for Mental Health to highlight the lack of services and funding to County Meath in particular and to our members. We will continue to work for and advocate for our members and their families
One parent has worked in partnership with clothing designers from Dunnes Stores to design a range of clothes for children with additional needs. This clothing line is available on www.dunnesstores.com/c/kids/highlights/additional-needs-clothing
We have worked with the Changing Places Committee under the auspices of Inclusion Ireland. The Changing Places initiative is to build proper changing facilities in public places. Special Hands Group has been involved with the new Changing places in Kells Swimming Pool as well as the Changing places in Athboy CCC
A committee from the Special Hands Group are proud to have worked with Meath County Council to upgrade Kells Swimming Pool. The pool has been made more accessible for people with a disability and the wider community.
Kells Playground was recently refurbished and is now disability friendly thanks to the significant input from one of our parents.
Our Committee members have met with the Minister for Health, the Minister for Disabilities and the Minister for Mental Health to highlight the lack of services and funding to County Meath in particular and to our members. We will continue to work for and advocate for our members and their families
Our Activities
We host a variety of classes and groups for our members and we are always open to suggestions for new activities. Here are just a few of the classes and groups we run throughout the year.
Friday Club.
Cooking Classes.
Baking Classes.
Zumba
Mugendo KickBoxing
Dance.
Fun Fitness.
GAA Skills.
Art & Crafts & Pottery.
Music & Drama Classes.
Swimming Lessons one to one
Swimming Lessons Beginners
Swimming Lessons Advanced
Chatting with Confidence Class
Singing and Drama
Bingo
Junior Summer Camp
Tennis
Saturday Club
Multi Media Group
All places on any activity with Special Hands Activity Group must be booked through the organising member.
For further details on any of our classes please use the 'Contact Us' section of the website.
Friday Club.
Cooking Classes.
Baking Classes.
Zumba
Mugendo KickBoxing
Dance.
Fun Fitness.
GAA Skills.
Art & Crafts & Pottery.
Music & Drama Classes.
Swimming Lessons one to one
Swimming Lessons Beginners
Swimming Lessons Advanced
Chatting with Confidence Class
Singing and Drama
Bingo
Junior Summer Camp
Tennis
Saturday Club
Multi Media Group
All places on any activity with Special Hands Activity Group must be booked through the organising member.
For further details on any of our classes please use the 'Contact Us' section of the website.
