Special Hands Activity Group Newsletter - Oct 2018
Welcome to the Special Hands Activity Group Newsletter – This Newsletter will be sent 2 or 3 time a year to let members, particularly those who are not active on our Facebook page, know what we have been up to. This newsletter covers the activities we have been up to this summer and the activities planned for this term
Summer Activities
We have had a very busy Summer with a wide range of activities for all members.
OT Camp in Causey Farm
This camp was run by Della Murtagh, an OT based in Kells. It was aimed at children aged 6-14 who have a the mild or moderate diagnosis and who do not qualify for the July provisions. The camp was held in July. The course lasted 2 weeks with 2 groups of children competing a week each.
Outings for 16+
Our 16+ group went to The Solstice to see "High School Musical" in June followed by a trip to the cinema to see "Mama Mia - Here we go again" in July.
Media Studies
Our Media studies group for our 16+ group was held over the summer and run by Shay Casserly and Linda Farrell. A short film and a designed teeshirt was produced over the 8 weeks.
Cookery Camps
Two Cookery camps were held this summer in the Athboy Convent Community Centre(CCC). Run by Tina Growney with the assistance of Linda Farrell. The Camps were for 1- 1.5 hrs pre day for 3 days. The first camp was aimed at our 10-16 age group and the second course was aimed at our 16+ age group. Both courses were very successful.
Equestrian/Therapeutic Riding Camp
Our equestrian camp run by Rita Dunne & Marita Dunne was held the Kells Equestrian Centre. It was held each Tuesday in August for 2 groups. With groups spending 2 hours learning to ride and grooming the horses.
Special Hands Swim Gala
Our first Swim Gala was held in Kells Swimming Pool July 14th 2018. The Gala was held in conjunction with Trim Special Olympics Swimming Club. with over 50 swimmers in the pool that day. We had wonderful swim t-shirts for each participant on the day.
The Gala was funded by monies raised by the Smurfitt Kappa Sports and Social club. We are very grateful to them for their support of Special Hands Activity Group
We hope after the success of this event that it will become an annual event in the Special Hand Calendar
Summer Picnic - Rock Farm.
A great time was had a this years end of Summer Picnic in August - despite the limitations of the Irish Weather. The picnic was held indoors at Rock Farm Slane. With attendees enjoying indoor games, canoeing, hot tubs and homemade pizza!
Many thanks to Alex & Carina Connyham, all the staff at Rock Farm and the volunteers from Ribbontail Paddlers Canoe Club who assisted with the water sports.
Special Hands Trip to Brussels
This Summer delegates of Special Hands Activity Group were invited by Marian Harkin MEP to attend a meeting of the Family Carers interest group in the European Parliament in Brussels. The European Parliament Informal Carers Interest Group meets 3 times a year and brings together MEPs from different countries and political parties who are willing to support the development of carer-friendly societies. The Group aims to critically monitor and analyse EU policy development for its impact on carers and to propose and advocate concrete action in order to improve the day-to-day situation for Europe’s many carers, working in close partnership with relevant stakeholders.
Marian Harkin MEP is co-chair of this group and has for the last number of years sponsored representatives from carers groups in Ireland to attend. Special Hands Group was joined by Carers from the Donegal Carers association, Young Carers from Family Carers Ireland and 24/7 Carers. The focus of the meeting was on "Work/Life Balance".
Marian Harkin MEP welcomed us to the meeting and gave us an over view of the working of the Commission. Christine Marking (EuroCarers) gave us an overview of the Work Life Balance report commisioned by EuCarers. This was followed by a presentation by John Dunne (EuroCarers & Head of Family Carers Ireland). This presentation outlined all the different models of Care used by each member state and the difficulties with integrating them within a European context. This was followed by a lively debate. We were also given a tour of the European Parliment
Those travelling from Special Hands were Alva Cullen, Theresa Olohan, Assumpta Kelly, Patricia Murphy, Helen Rush, Sandra Allen, Fiona Casey, Yvette Bloomfield, Mary Sherrock and Noeleen Skelly pictured below with Marian Harkin (front center)
Genio Funding - Social Reform Steering Group Committee
GENIO is a Irish based non profit organisation working with Government and Philanthropy to transform social services. CH08 ( Meath / Midlands/ Louth area) has applied for funding from this group. As part of this application Meath Disability Services met with members of Special Hands and we provided input and testimonials that were used as part of this application. CH08 has been successful in its application to GENIO for funding.
Elaine Mulvilhil, Meath Disability Manager has asked that a representative from Special Hands be part of a steering committee which will support the planning and implementation of service reform across the CHO and Alva Cullen initially agreed to be our representative.
This group has now met on several occasions and have agreed that there are three main areas needing to be addressed. These are :
If you are interested in further information
http://nda.ie/Publications/Disability-Supports/Transforming-Lives.pdf
Activities for the new term
With Schools back it time to start back with the usual Special Hands Activities
Swimming :
Saturday Swim - Theresa Olohan
Juniors & Seniors Swim Classes Started back 7th Sept. Currently full.
Friday Swim - Helen Rush
Small mixed ability swim class. Started back 14th Sept.
Saturday Am Club - Sandra Allen
Class aimed at 10 -16 age group. Activities change approximately every 6 weeks. Currently running Zumba with Edel McKeown
Cookery - Fiona Casey
Class run Mondays in Athboy CCC Mondays. Tina Growney runs a 1.5 hour cookery class. Currently Fully booked
Bingo - Pailine O’Reilly & Linda Farrell
Class started back 27th Sept. Claremount Stadium Navan 6pm Thursday Ages 14+ all welcome
Friday Club - Patricia Courtney
This group meets on an ad hoc basis with activities vaping weekly aimed at age +14. This is a small group with space for less than 10.
Youth Group - Karen Kinahan
Youth group aimed at ages 12 -21. Started back 18th September - Currently fully booked
Brand New Activities
The following activities have just started or are being planned
Singing Group
A new singing group has been setup by Yvette Bloomfield. The group is aimed at the 16+ age group. The group meet in Athboy CCC on Saturdays at 4pm. Contact Yvette Bloomfield or SpecialHandsGroup@gmail.com if interested in attending
FunFitness u10
We are planing to start a new Fun Fitness Class for the U10 age group. Fun Fitness is a course that Tina Growney has run for Special Hands for a number of years. It has always been very popular and is a great way for our younger members to make new friends. Starts Saturday 10th Nov @ 11:30 in Athboy Convent Community Centre. Contact SpecialHandsgroup@gmail.com if interested in attending.
Arts and Crafts
We will be starting an Arts and Crafts class shortly aimed at the 7 -14 age group. Time and dates to be announced contact SpecialHandsgroup@gmail.com if interested in attending.
Midterm KETRAL Therapeutic Riding Camp
As a follow-on from our successful Equestrian camp this summer we will be holding a one day camp on Tuesday 30th Oct in Kells Equestrian centre. -Currently fully booked
If you have any ideas and suggestions for new activities please talk to a member of the committee or e-mail us at SpecialHandsGroup@gmail.com
Events
Bouncibility- Staying Strong in Challenging Times with Shane Martin
Shane Martin is a psychologist and Author, dedicated to teaching the very best self-help psychology to empower people to enhance the quality of their lives. This seminar focus'd on the resilience to “bounce back” from the challenges of life. www.moodwatchers.com
This seminar was held 13th September at the Newgrange Hotel Navan. It was very well attended and delivered with great humour with lots of positive feedback from those attending
If you have any suggestions on talks you would be interested in please contact us at SpecialHandsgroup@gmail.com
Coming up …
Pooka Spooka
The wonderful folk at Causey Farm have invited us to share some Halloween fun and daytime scares!
http://www.causey.ie/halloween
Oct 20th @ 1pm
Membership Forms
This year in order to compile with GDPR Data Protection we have asked you all to complete a membership form for Special Hands. This has provided us with a complete set of information about our members. Allowing us to tailor courses for particular age groups, send e-mails announcing events and activities to non Facebook members and to send this newsletter!
Kells Swimming Pool Refurbishment
As many of you will know in May 2014 Special Hands Activity Group applied for HSE National Lottery Funding to improve wheelchair changing facilities and pool access for our members. We were successful in our application and secured €48,000 for this project. Meath County Council subsequently came on board with this project expanding the initial scope of the project. It has been a lengthy process to get this project started. Special Hands, has been involved at every stage.
Finally this project is scheduled to start in November 2018. This has been a major achievement for Special Hands but unfortunately will mean that the pool will be closed for a minimum of 12 weeksCoffee AmsSpecial Hands will be holding Coffee Morning's every 4 -6 weeks. Our first one was held in Athboy Convent Community Centre 28th September. We plan to move them to different locations to facilitate all our members. The next one will be held in Kells 9th November - more details to follow.
The coffee am's are a great opportunity to come and catch up with old friends and hopefully make some new ones.
Trim Ladies Circle
The Trim Ladies Circle are an organisation who host an annual fund raising Ladies Lunch . This year they have chosen Special Hands Activity Group as their main Charity.
Special Hands has decided that monies raised from this event will be used to setup a dedicated computer lab to provide training to all. The Trim Ladies Circle Lunch will be held on 6th April 2019. There will only be limited availability of Tickets - we will keep you updated.
Anyone interested in sponsorship with regard to this please contact Yvette Bloomfield (087 260 0880)
Fund Raisers
We would like to take this opportunity to thank
If you would like to raise money for Special Hands we are grateful for all donations. If you would like a sponsorship form please let us know.
The Special Hands Committee
Alva Cullen (Chair), Helen Rush (Secretary), Patricia Murphy (Treasurer) , Theresa Olohan (Trustee), Assumpa Kelly (Trustee), Sandra Allen, Fiona Casey, Yvette Bloomfield, Linda Farrell, Karen Kinahan, Gillian Phillips Browne.
Any queries please contact us at SpecialHandsGroup@gmail.com
Welcome to the Special Hands Activity Group Newsletter – This Newsletter will be sent 2 or 3 time a year to let members, particularly those who are not active on our Facebook page, know what we have been up to. This newsletter covers the activities we have been up to this summer and the activities planned for this term
Summer Activities
We have had a very busy Summer with a wide range of activities for all members.
OT Camp in Causey Farm
This camp was run by Della Murtagh, an OT based in Kells. It was aimed at children aged 6-14 who have a the mild or moderate diagnosis and who do not qualify for the July provisions. The camp was held in July. The course lasted 2 weeks with 2 groups of children competing a week each.
Outings for 16+
Our 16+ group went to The Solstice to see "High School Musical" in June followed by a trip to the cinema to see "Mama Mia - Here we go again" in July.
Media Studies
Our Media studies group for our 16+ group was held over the summer and run by Shay Casserly and Linda Farrell. A short film and a designed teeshirt was produced over the 8 weeks.
Cookery Camps
Two Cookery camps were held this summer in the Athboy Convent Community Centre(CCC). Run by Tina Growney with the assistance of Linda Farrell. The Camps were for 1- 1.5 hrs pre day for 3 days. The first camp was aimed at our 10-16 age group and the second course was aimed at our 16+ age group. Both courses were very successful.
Equestrian/Therapeutic Riding Camp
Our equestrian camp run by Rita Dunne & Marita Dunne was held the Kells Equestrian Centre. It was held each Tuesday in August for 2 groups. With groups spending 2 hours learning to ride and grooming the horses.
Special Hands Swim Gala
Our first Swim Gala was held in Kells Swimming Pool July 14th 2018. The Gala was held in conjunction with Trim Special Olympics Swimming Club. with over 50 swimmers in the pool that day. We had wonderful swim t-shirts for each participant on the day.
The Gala was funded by monies raised by the Smurfitt Kappa Sports and Social club. We are very grateful to them for their support of Special Hands Activity Group
We hope after the success of this event that it will become an annual event in the Special Hand Calendar
Summer Picnic - Rock Farm.
A great time was had a this years end of Summer Picnic in August - despite the limitations of the Irish Weather. The picnic was held indoors at Rock Farm Slane. With attendees enjoying indoor games, canoeing, hot tubs and homemade pizza!
Many thanks to Alex & Carina Connyham, all the staff at Rock Farm and the volunteers from Ribbontail Paddlers Canoe Club who assisted with the water sports.
Special Hands Trip to Brussels
This Summer delegates of Special Hands Activity Group were invited by Marian Harkin MEP to attend a meeting of the Family Carers interest group in the European Parliament in Brussels. The European Parliament Informal Carers Interest Group meets 3 times a year and brings together MEPs from different countries and political parties who are willing to support the development of carer-friendly societies. The Group aims to critically monitor and analyse EU policy development for its impact on carers and to propose and advocate concrete action in order to improve the day-to-day situation for Europe’s many carers, working in close partnership with relevant stakeholders.
Marian Harkin MEP is co-chair of this group and has for the last number of years sponsored representatives from carers groups in Ireland to attend. Special Hands Group was joined by Carers from the Donegal Carers association, Young Carers from Family Carers Ireland and 24/7 Carers. The focus of the meeting was on "Work/Life Balance".
Marian Harkin MEP welcomed us to the meeting and gave us an over view of the working of the Commission. Christine Marking (EuroCarers) gave us an overview of the Work Life Balance report commisioned by EuCarers. This was followed by a presentation by John Dunne (EuroCarers & Head of Family Carers Ireland). This presentation outlined all the different models of Care used by each member state and the difficulties with integrating them within a European context. This was followed by a lively debate. We were also given a tour of the European Parliment
Those travelling from Special Hands were Alva Cullen, Theresa Olohan, Assumpta Kelly, Patricia Murphy, Helen Rush, Sandra Allen, Fiona Casey, Yvette Bloomfield, Mary Sherrock and Noeleen Skelly pictured below with Marian Harkin (front center)
Genio Funding - Social Reform Steering Group Committee
GENIO is a Irish based non profit organisation working with Government and Philanthropy to transform social services. CH08 ( Meath / Midlands/ Louth area) has applied for funding from this group. As part of this application Meath Disability Services met with members of Special Hands and we provided input and testimonials that were used as part of this application. CH08 has been successful in its application to GENIO for funding.
Elaine Mulvilhil, Meath Disability Manager has asked that a representative from Special Hands be part of a steering committee which will support the planning and implementation of service reform across the CHO and Alva Cullen initially agreed to be our representative.
This group has now met on several occasions and have agreed that there are three main areas needing to be addressed. These are :
- Reframing Demand
- Reforming Day Services
- Reforming of Disability Respite Services
If you are interested in further information
http://nda.ie/Publications/Disability-Supports/Transforming-Lives.pdf
Activities for the new term
With Schools back it time to start back with the usual Special Hands Activities
Swimming :
Saturday Swim - Theresa Olohan
Juniors & Seniors Swim Classes Started back 7th Sept. Currently full.
Friday Swim - Helen Rush
Small mixed ability swim class. Started back 14th Sept.
Saturday Am Club - Sandra Allen
Class aimed at 10 -16 age group. Activities change approximately every 6 weeks. Currently running Zumba with Edel McKeown
Cookery - Fiona Casey
Class run Mondays in Athboy CCC Mondays. Tina Growney runs a 1.5 hour cookery class. Currently Fully booked
Bingo - Pailine O’Reilly & Linda Farrell
Class started back 27th Sept. Claremount Stadium Navan 6pm Thursday Ages 14+ all welcome
Friday Club - Patricia Courtney
This group meets on an ad hoc basis with activities vaping weekly aimed at age +14. This is a small group with space for less than 10.
Youth Group - Karen Kinahan
Youth group aimed at ages 12 -21. Started back 18th September - Currently fully booked
Brand New Activities
The following activities have just started or are being planned
Singing Group
A new singing group has been setup by Yvette Bloomfield. The group is aimed at the 16+ age group. The group meet in Athboy CCC on Saturdays at 4pm. Contact Yvette Bloomfield or SpecialHandsGroup@gmail.com if interested in attending
FunFitness u10
We are planing to start a new Fun Fitness Class for the U10 age group. Fun Fitness is a course that Tina Growney has run for Special Hands for a number of years. It has always been very popular and is a great way for our younger members to make new friends. Starts Saturday 10th Nov @ 11:30 in Athboy Convent Community Centre. Contact SpecialHandsgroup@gmail.com if interested in attending.
Arts and Crafts
We will be starting an Arts and Crafts class shortly aimed at the 7 -14 age group. Time and dates to be announced contact SpecialHandsgroup@gmail.com if interested in attending.
Midterm KETRAL Therapeutic Riding Camp
As a follow-on from our successful Equestrian camp this summer we will be holding a one day camp on Tuesday 30th Oct in Kells Equestrian centre. -Currently fully booked
If you have any ideas and suggestions for new activities please talk to a member of the committee or e-mail us at SpecialHandsGroup@gmail.com
Events
Bouncibility- Staying Strong in Challenging Times with Shane Martin
Shane Martin is a psychologist and Author, dedicated to teaching the very best self-help psychology to empower people to enhance the quality of their lives. This seminar focus'd on the resilience to “bounce back” from the challenges of life. www.moodwatchers.com
This seminar was held 13th September at the Newgrange Hotel Navan. It was very well attended and delivered with great humour with lots of positive feedback from those attending
If you have any suggestions on talks you would be interested in please contact us at SpecialHandsgroup@gmail.com
Coming up …
Pooka Spooka
The wonderful folk at Causey Farm have invited us to share some Halloween fun and daytime scares!
http://www.causey.ie/halloween
Oct 20th @ 1pm
Membership Forms
This year in order to compile with GDPR Data Protection we have asked you all to complete a membership form for Special Hands. This has provided us with a complete set of information about our members. Allowing us to tailor courses for particular age groups, send e-mails announcing events and activities to non Facebook members and to send this newsletter!
Kells Swimming Pool Refurbishment
As many of you will know in May 2014 Special Hands Activity Group applied for HSE National Lottery Funding to improve wheelchair changing facilities and pool access for our members. We were successful in our application and secured €48,000 for this project. Meath County Council subsequently came on board with this project expanding the initial scope of the project. It has been a lengthy process to get this project started. Special Hands, has been involved at every stage.
Finally this project is scheduled to start in November 2018. This has been a major achievement for Special Hands but unfortunately will mean that the pool will be closed for a minimum of 12 weeksCoffee AmsSpecial Hands will be holding Coffee Morning's every 4 -6 weeks. Our first one was held in Athboy Convent Community Centre 28th September. We plan to move them to different locations to facilitate all our members. The next one will be held in Kells 9th November - more details to follow.
The coffee am's are a great opportunity to come and catch up with old friends and hopefully make some new ones.
Trim Ladies Circle
The Trim Ladies Circle are an organisation who host an annual fund raising Ladies Lunch . This year they have chosen Special Hands Activity Group as their main Charity.
Special Hands has decided that monies raised from this event will be used to setup a dedicated computer lab to provide training to all. The Trim Ladies Circle Lunch will be held on 6th April 2019. There will only be limited availability of Tickets - we will keep you updated.
Anyone interested in sponsorship with regard to this please contact Yvette Bloomfield (087 260 0880)
Fund Raisers
We would like to take this opportunity to thank
- Smurfit Kappa Sports and Social Club
- Dads for Charity Cycle
If you would like to raise money for Special Hands we are grateful for all donations. If you would like a sponsorship form please let us know.
The Special Hands Committee
Alva Cullen (Chair), Helen Rush (Secretary), Patricia Murphy (Treasurer) , Theresa Olohan (Trustee), Assumpa Kelly (Trustee), Sandra Allen, Fiona Casey, Yvette Bloomfield, Linda Farrell, Karen Kinahan, Gillian Phillips Browne.
Any queries please contact us at SpecialHandsGroup@gmail.com
