Special Hands Activity Group is a community group based in Co. Meath.
A Community and Voluntary group which is parent led, we organise activities and social events for children & young adults with additional needs. We also offer support for the parents, siblings and families of our members.
As per our AGM the 2018 Structure is as Follows
Chairperson - Alva Cullen
Secretery - 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
Members of the Committee 2018
Alva Cullen, Helen Rush, Varsha Matreja, Theresa Olohan, Assumpta Kelly, Yvette Bloomfield, Sandra Allen, Fiona Casey, Linda Farrell, Karen Kinahan,
Special Hands 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
Special Hands is a registered community and voluntary group. CHY NO. 15635 established in 2002.
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. It was started as a support to parents of toddlers with Additional Needs and it has 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 f Chy No.15635
A Community and Voluntary group which is parent led, we organise activities and social events for children & young adults with additional needs. We also offer support for the parents, siblings and families of our members.
As per our AGM the 2018 Structure is as Follows
Chairperson - Alva Cullen
Secretery - 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
Members of the Committee 2018
Alva Cullen, Helen Rush, Varsha Matreja, Theresa Olohan, Assumpta Kelly, Yvette Bloomfield, Sandra Allen, Fiona Casey, Linda Farrell, Karen Kinahan,
Special Hands 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
Special Hands is a registered community and voluntary group. CHY NO. 15635 established in 2002.
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. It was started as a support to parents of toddlers with Additional Needs and it has 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 f Chy No.15635
Our Involvement in the Community
Along with organising activities our committee is 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 Specialist Body Suits and Sleepwear for children with intellectual difficulties from birth up to the age 14. This clothing line will be launched in November and will available On line.
Another parent is a member of the national steering Changing Places Committee under the auspices of Inclusion Ireland; this initiative is to build proper changing facilities in public places. This is a national project. One such facility has been recently been opened in Dublin Airport and another at Aras an Uachtarain.
A committee from the Special Hands Group are currently working with Meath County Council to upgrade Kells Swimming Pool. This will make it 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 in 2017 to highlight the lack of services and funding to County Meath in particular and to our members. We will continue in our advocacy of these issues in 2018.
One parent has worked in partnership with clothing designers from Dunnes Stores to design Specialist Body Suits and Sleepwear for children with intellectual difficulties from birth up to the age 14. This clothing line will be launched in November and will available On line.
Another parent is a member of the national steering Changing Places Committee under the auspices of Inclusion Ireland; this initiative is to build proper changing facilities in public places. This is a national project. One such facility has been recently been opened in Dublin Airport and another at Aras an Uachtarain.
A committee from the Special Hands Group are currently working with Meath County Council to upgrade Kells Swimming Pool. This will make it 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 in 2017 to highlight the lack of services and funding to County Meath in particular and to our members. We will continue in our advocacy of these issues in 2018.
The Fun Stuff
Friday Club. Weekly social group for young adults
Cookery Classes. This is run weekly for young adults who wish to learn to cook healthy, simple and nutritious meals. A cookery class for our junior members will commence in early 2018
An Art class & Crafts & Pottery. Held intermittently throughour the year, this is an inclusion group which all family members are very much encouraged to attend.
Music & Drama Classes. A drama group is available for young adults to attend, please contact us for further information
Swimming Lessons This is one of our core activities which is ongoing. Two classes are held on a
Saturday in Kells Pool. A specialised swim class is also held on a Friday afternoon. Spaces are limited, please contact us directly for details.
Chatting with Confidence Class Further details for 2018 classes will be posted as soon as they are available.
Bingo A very popular evening! Members are showing great improvement in number calling and number recognition
Junior Summer Camp A fantastic week is always had by all who attend. Cookery, crafts and a fun day on the farm for everyone
Upcycling Amazing work was been done during our pilot class back in 2016, some really beautiful finished pieces showed just what our members are capable of with guidance and support.
Tennis Kells Tennis club host a weekly group lesson with some of our members discovering a hidden talent for tennis and others developing a great new hobby. Details of the 2018 lessons will be posted as soon as they are available.
Zumba One of our most popular classes which continues in 6 week blocks
Drama Our Drama group gives our members the opportunity to be as expressive and creative as they wish all while building confidence and encouraging public speaking. Fantastic performances all round
Saturday Club For our Junior Members (Under 14) The club revolves around sports and social activities. Please get in touch if you require more information.
Fun Fit Class A very entertaining class with mix of all sports, catering for all levels of fitness and ability
These are only a brief example of what we as a charity provide on a weekly, monthly, quarterly basis.
Special Hands most certainly is an Activity 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.
Cookery Classes. This is run weekly for young adults who wish to learn to cook healthy, simple and nutritious meals. A cookery class for our junior members will commence in early 2018
An Art class & Crafts & Pottery. Held intermittently throughour the year, this is an inclusion group which all family members are very much encouraged to attend.
Music & Drama Classes. A drama group is available for young adults to attend, please contact us for further information
Swimming Lessons This is one of our core activities which is ongoing. Two classes are held on a
Saturday in Kells Pool. A specialised swim class is also held on a Friday afternoon. Spaces are limited, please contact us directly for details.
Chatting with Confidence Class Further details for 2018 classes will be posted as soon as they are available.
Bingo A very popular evening! Members are showing great improvement in number calling and number recognition
Junior Summer Camp A fantastic week is always had by all who attend. Cookery, crafts and a fun day on the farm for everyone
Upcycling Amazing work was been done during our pilot class back in 2016, some really beautiful finished pieces showed just what our members are capable of with guidance and support.
Tennis Kells Tennis club host a weekly group lesson with some of our members discovering a hidden talent for tennis and others developing a great new hobby. Details of the 2018 lessons will be posted as soon as they are available.
Zumba One of our most popular classes which continues in 6 week blocks
Drama Our Drama group gives our members the opportunity to be as expressive and creative as they wish all while building confidence and encouraging public speaking. Fantastic performances all round
Saturday Club For our Junior Members (Under 14) The club revolves around sports and social activities. Please get in touch if you require more information.
Fun Fit Class A very entertaining class with mix of all sports, catering for all levels of fitness and ability
These are only a brief example of what we as a charity provide on a weekly, monthly, quarterly basis.
Special Hands most certainly is an Activity 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.
