2019 AGM Notice
We intend to hold our AGM this year in the Ardboyne Hotel Navan at 7.30pm on Wednesday the 22nd May. All members of Special Hands Activity Group are welcome to attend.
2018 AGM Notice
We intend to hold this years AGM in the Ardboyne Hotel Navan at 7.30pm on Wednesday 16th May. All members of Special Hands Activity Group are invited to attend.
2017 AGM Agenda
Our 2017 AGM was her on May 18th at 7pm in the Ardboyne Hotel Navan. Thank you to all who attended.
docs.google.com/document/d/1N8hjfUlXbqiANkMxuMpvLAm1AvL1QU6I50_XlSCFTrw/edit?usp=sharing
docs.google.com/document/d/1N8hjfUlXbqiANkMxuMpvLAm1AvL1QU6I50_XlSCFTrw/edit?usp=sharing
2016 AGM Notes
Special Hands Activity Group – Annual Report 2016
January
4 reps attended Meath Disability Network meeting in Unity Centre, Navan (Meath Co. Council facilitated).
Swimming classes commenced again – Kells Pool (Fridays & Saturdays – approx 50 attendees)
February
Zumba (Juniors) commenced Athboy on Saturday mornings.
March
Easter Cookery classes (Juniors - Athboy).
Music with Cuan (Juniors – Kells)
April
Line Dancing commenced on Saturdays for 6 weeks (Athboy)
Cookery (Seniors) continues
Bingo – weekly event each Thursday – numeracy and communication skills are showing great improvements. Members are now doing the number calling/prize calling. Confidence is growing. Average 15 attending each week.
May
Cookery continues on Monday afternoons.
Behavioural Workshop held at Claremont.
23rd May - Meeting at Kells pool with D McGowan, Meath Co. Council, D. Curtis, Architect, A. Reilly, T. Olohan & A. Kelly.
28th May – members attended Arch Club Pantomime in Solstice Theatre.
30th May – 3 reps attended ‘Personalised Budgets’ Meeting at Gibson Hotel, Dublin.
July
25th July - Annual Day Trip – Rathbeggan Lakes for activities and picnic.
Junior Summer Camp facilitated by Occupational Therapist
Upcycle Programme – Athboy facilitated by M Darcy. Benches completed for SH room.
Cookery Camps for Juniors and Seniors
Tennis commenced at Kells Tennis Club
August
24th August – 4 parents attended meeting with Minister for Health Simon Harris (accompanied by Councillor G. Toole). 3 HSE managers attended. Matters raised were slow offer of Day Service places, also some adults only get 2/3 days day service and lack of respite provision for both children and adults in Co. Meath. No buildings in ownership of some day service providers.
28th August – Official Opening of Kells Playground (Alva Cullen is to be congratulated for her work on this Committee)
September
Parent (T Woods) painted room at Centre in Athboy as a gift to our members.
Linkages with the local Down Syndrome Group have led to availability of rooms at Athboy Convent Community Centre now being made available to the Down Syndrome Group for the Latch On Programme. The programme will run for 18 months. This 3 way local collaboration is benefitting 10 young people with Down Syndrome (some who are also members of Special Hands Activity Group).
October
5th October – 5 parents (accompanied by Cllr. G. Toole attended meeting with Minister Finian McGrath to reiterate matters raised with Minister Simon Harris. 2 HSE managers attended.
Communications commenced with Knights of Columbanus re possible funding.
25th October – 1 parent attended the 3rd stage Consultation for the National Disability Strategy in Tullamore. This was a joint Department of Justice & Equality and Department of Health event. The National Disability Strategy is due to be rolled out in 2017.
28th October – mid year meeting was held at Claremont Stadium. 14 parents attended for update on activities/information incl. possible making of film. Cllr. G. Toole attended in part to update on linkages with HSE Regional Forum and respite/day service provision.
November
1st November – Disco held at Ryans, Navan.
Drama classes continue for senior members with final class being the Christmas event/party.
27th November – Bingo fundraiser held at Claremont Stadium, Navan.
28th November – 6 parents attended the HSE Regional Forum meeting in Kells
December
Zumba continues for junior members each Sat. morning.
Irish Public Bodies final return documents submitted.
10th December – Drama event/party
PPN Public Participation meeting took place on 13th December. Special Hands are registered on the PPN.
19th December – 4 parents attended the Kells Municipal District Meeting to support the official information re Part 8 for Kells Pool extension being brought to the meeting. All Councillors present were in full support of the works being carried out.
P. Murphy, Treasurer contacted all Activity organisers to finalise accounts for year end.
Additional Information:
At the end of 2016 Special Hands Activity Group is now reaching over 100 families with participants attending swimming, bingo, cookery on a regular basis. We now have a presence in community buildings in Kells, Navan and Athboy and are recognised by state organisations such as Meath County Council, the HSE and service providers, for the work we do in supporting families living with disability.
Other activities have included arts and crafts and zumba. Our parents joined together to attend meetings with HSE staff, day services providers, local councillors, Dail deputies, and Ministers to continue to highlight the need for more respite provision for Co. Meath and to campaign for better adult disability service in purpose built premises. Special Hands were to the fore in ensuring that the equipment placed at Kells Playground during refurbishment would allow children in wheelchair play alongside those not requiring the use of wheelchairs.
Preparation for application of Church Gate Collection permit commenced together with continued linkages with local businesses, Knights of Columbanus and Manna Group as a funding stream.
Our members are requested to always give a subscription to each activity and together with our funding streams this ensures that we continue to be able to provide activities for our members.
Our Facebook page is the main communication tool with updates then being placed on our website www.specialhandsgroup.com
2016 was a very busy and productive year with exciting developments at Kells Playground, progress on Kells Pool development, plans and activities continuing every week for young/older members and support being given by all as older members transition from an educational setting to Day Services.
Date of Committee Meetings:
18th January 2016
1st March 2016
28th April 2016
20th May 2016 – AGM
29th September 2016
28th October 2016
15th December 2016
19th December 2016
Thanks is extended to all parents/members who make Special Hands Activity Group a continued success and a community and voluntary organisation which is making a difference.
January
4 reps attended Meath Disability Network meeting in Unity Centre, Navan (Meath Co. Council facilitated).
Swimming classes commenced again – Kells Pool (Fridays & Saturdays – approx 50 attendees)
February
Zumba (Juniors) commenced Athboy on Saturday mornings.
March
Easter Cookery classes (Juniors - Athboy).
Music with Cuan (Juniors – Kells)
April
Line Dancing commenced on Saturdays for 6 weeks (Athboy)
Cookery (Seniors) continues
Bingo – weekly event each Thursday – numeracy and communication skills are showing great improvements. Members are now doing the number calling/prize calling. Confidence is growing. Average 15 attending each week.
May
Cookery continues on Monday afternoons.
Behavioural Workshop held at Claremont.
23rd May - Meeting at Kells pool with D McGowan, Meath Co. Council, D. Curtis, Architect, A. Reilly, T. Olohan & A. Kelly.
28th May – members attended Arch Club Pantomime in Solstice Theatre.
30th May – 3 reps attended ‘Personalised Budgets’ Meeting at Gibson Hotel, Dublin.
July
25th July - Annual Day Trip – Rathbeggan Lakes for activities and picnic.
Junior Summer Camp facilitated by Occupational Therapist
Upcycle Programme – Athboy facilitated by M Darcy. Benches completed for SH room.
Cookery Camps for Juniors and Seniors
Tennis commenced at Kells Tennis Club
August
24th August – 4 parents attended meeting with Minister for Health Simon Harris (accompanied by Councillor G. Toole). 3 HSE managers attended. Matters raised were slow offer of Day Service places, also some adults only get 2/3 days day service and lack of respite provision for both children and adults in Co. Meath. No buildings in ownership of some day service providers.
28th August – Official Opening of Kells Playground (Alva Cullen is to be congratulated for her work on this Committee)
September
Parent (T Woods) painted room at Centre in Athboy as a gift to our members.
Linkages with the local Down Syndrome Group have led to availability of rooms at Athboy Convent Community Centre now being made available to the Down Syndrome Group for the Latch On Programme. The programme will run for 18 months. This 3 way local collaboration is benefitting 10 young people with Down Syndrome (some who are also members of Special Hands Activity Group).
October
5th October – 5 parents (accompanied by Cllr. G. Toole attended meeting with Minister Finian McGrath to reiterate matters raised with Minister Simon Harris. 2 HSE managers attended.
Communications commenced with Knights of Columbanus re possible funding.
25th October – 1 parent attended the 3rd stage Consultation for the National Disability Strategy in Tullamore. This was a joint Department of Justice & Equality and Department of Health event. The National Disability Strategy is due to be rolled out in 2017.
28th October – mid year meeting was held at Claremont Stadium. 14 parents attended for update on activities/information incl. possible making of film. Cllr. G. Toole attended in part to update on linkages with HSE Regional Forum and respite/day service provision.
November
1st November – Disco held at Ryans, Navan.
Drama classes continue for senior members with final class being the Christmas event/party.
27th November – Bingo fundraiser held at Claremont Stadium, Navan.
28th November – 6 parents attended the HSE Regional Forum meeting in Kells
December
Zumba continues for junior members each Sat. morning.
Irish Public Bodies final return documents submitted.
10th December – Drama event/party
PPN Public Participation meeting took place on 13th December. Special Hands are registered on the PPN.
19th December – 4 parents attended the Kells Municipal District Meeting to support the official information re Part 8 for Kells Pool extension being brought to the meeting. All Councillors present were in full support of the works being carried out.
P. Murphy, Treasurer contacted all Activity organisers to finalise accounts for year end.
Additional Information:
At the end of 2016 Special Hands Activity Group is now reaching over 100 families with participants attending swimming, bingo, cookery on a regular basis. We now have a presence in community buildings in Kells, Navan and Athboy and are recognised by state organisations such as Meath County Council, the HSE and service providers, for the work we do in supporting families living with disability.
Other activities have included arts and crafts and zumba. Our parents joined together to attend meetings with HSE staff, day services providers, local councillors, Dail deputies, and Ministers to continue to highlight the need for more respite provision for Co. Meath and to campaign for better adult disability service in purpose built premises. Special Hands were to the fore in ensuring that the equipment placed at Kells Playground during refurbishment would allow children in wheelchair play alongside those not requiring the use of wheelchairs.
Preparation for application of Church Gate Collection permit commenced together with continued linkages with local businesses, Knights of Columbanus and Manna Group as a funding stream.
Our members are requested to always give a subscription to each activity and together with our funding streams this ensures that we continue to be able to provide activities for our members.
Our Facebook page is the main communication tool with updates then being placed on our website www.specialhandsgroup.com
2016 was a very busy and productive year with exciting developments at Kells Playground, progress on Kells Pool development, plans and activities continuing every week for young/older members and support being given by all as older members transition from an educational setting to Day Services.
Date of Committee Meetings:
18th January 2016
1st March 2016
28th April 2016
20th May 2016 – AGM
29th September 2016
28th October 2016
15th December 2016
19th December 2016
Thanks is extended to all parents/members who make Special Hands Activity Group a continued success and a community and voluntary organisation which is making a difference.
