Special Hands Press Releases
Tara Mines December 2016
Special Hands Activity Group would like to express their gratitude to Brendan
Anderson who ran the Dublin Marathon recently on behalf of the Group. Brendan
raised sponsorship and presented a cheque for €1,250 which included contributions
from the Anderson family and friends, together with contributions from QME Mining
Equipment Ltd. and Boliden Tara Mines Ltd.
Anderson who ran the Dublin Marathon recently on behalf of the Group. Brendan
raised sponsorship and presented a cheque for €1,250 which included contributions
from the Anderson family and friends, together with contributions from QME Mining
Equipment Ltd. and Boliden Tara Mines Ltd.
Kells Fairgreen Playground Redevelopment 2016
Special Hands Activity Group who are renowned in the Kells area for
organising recreational and sporting activities for children and young people
with physical and intellectual delay, are very proud to be part of the
development group for this wonderful new and inclusive playground for Kells
and the surrounding areas.
The playground is now somewhere children of all abilities can come to play
and enjoy being part of their community. The facility at the Fair Green has
been much needed in Kells for a long time and thanks to the hard work and
determination of all involved on the Playground Committee it will be a
tremendous asset for the town for many years to come.
organising recreational and sporting activities for children and young people
with physical and intellectual delay, are very proud to be part of the
development group for this wonderful new and inclusive playground for Kells
and the surrounding areas.
The playground is now somewhere children of all abilities can come to play
and enjoy being part of their community. The facility at the Fair Green has
been much needed in Kells for a long time and thanks to the hard work and
determination of all involved on the Playground Committee it will be a
tremendous asset for the town for many years to come.
Smurfit Kappa Social Club, Kells make a €3,000 presentation
to Special Hands Activity Group - February 2016
Liam Nevin, staff member Smurfit Kappa and his son Sean nominated Special Hands
Activity Group to be the beneficiaries of a recent Cycle.
The funding will support the recreational activities of local children and young adults
with special needs. While at the Smurfit premises, the Group were given a tour of the
Plant and learned about the process of newspaper printing.
Theresa Olohan, Chairperson of Special Hands Activity Group said
“I wish to express thanks to Liam Nevin and his colleagues for taking part in the cycle
to raise the much needed funds and also for bringing our community group on the
tour of the Plant. Young people with special needs gain significantly from being part
of their working community and seeing how it operates”
Activity Group to be the beneficiaries of a recent Cycle.
The funding will support the recreational activities of local children and young adults
with special needs. While at the Smurfit premises, the Group were given a tour of the
Plant and learned about the process of newspaper printing.
Theresa Olohan, Chairperson of Special Hands Activity Group said
“I wish to express thanks to Liam Nevin and his colleagues for taking part in the cycle
to raise the much needed funds and also for bringing our community group on the
tour of the Plant. Young people with special needs gain significantly from being part
of their working community and seeing how it operates”
Pamper Me for Charity Fundraiser 2015
A fundraiser for the Special Hands Activity Group will be held in the Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells On Saturday 18th March at 8pm
Special Hands is an Activity Group for children /young people with additional needs. The
Group meets regularly for swimming classes, art and pottery, cooking classes and many
other activities with members from across Co. Meath and beyond.
It promises to be a fantastic night - with Special Hands very own band
Triona and the Other Direction making their very first public appearance.
Belly Dancers from ............. will add to the evening with some ‘shakin’ music.
Come along and have your makeup, hair or nails done. (Treatments commence at 9pm)
Fantastic bargains will also be available at the many stalls of amazing products on the night.
A monster raffle will also take place with very generous prizes already lined up. Spot prizes
up for grabs too! There will be some brilliant entertainment and of course a DJ to help
keep us all dancing.
Tickets are only €10 and are available from the NCBI shop in Kells or you can contact
Special Hands members on (086) 3082889 or (087) 2848596 or ???
Follow us on our Facebook page - Pamper me for Charity or on our website
Special Hands is an Activity Group for children /young people with additional needs. The
Group meets regularly for swimming classes, art and pottery, cooking classes and many
other activities with members from across Co. Meath and beyond.
It promises to be a fantastic night - with Special Hands very own band
Triona and the Other Direction making their very first public appearance.
Belly Dancers from ............. will add to the evening with some ‘shakin’ music.
Come along and have your makeup, hair or nails done. (Treatments commence at 9pm)
Fantastic bargains will also be available at the many stalls of amazing products on the night.
A monster raffle will also take place with very generous prizes already lined up. Spot prizes
up for grabs too! There will be some brilliant entertainment and of course a DJ to help
keep us all dancing.
Tickets are only €10 and are available from the NCBI shop in Kells or you can contact
Special Hands members on (086) 3082889 or (087) 2848596 or ???
Follow us on our Facebook page - Pamper me for Charity or on our website
Christa Asche Phillips Brown and her mum Gillian joined Jackie Maguire, CEO Meath County Council to officially launch the upgraded Adult Changing Place at Kells Swimming Pool -December 2015
Special Hands Activity Group who provided the equipment (with part
funding from the Department of Children & Youth Affairs/National
Lottery funding) wish to acknowledge the full support of Meath County
Council in enhancing the facility and look forward to working with the
Council in the coming months to further upgrade the main changing areas
at the Pool. The disabled changing area now has a full adult sized
changing table and hoist in place which is available to everyone.
funding from the Department of Children & Youth Affairs/National
Lottery funding) wish to acknowledge the full support of Meath County
Council in enhancing the facility and look forward to working with the
Council in the coming months to further upgrade the main changing areas
at the Pool. The disabled changing area now has a full adult sized
changing table and hoist in place which is available to everyone.
Special Hands Activity Group are delighted to announce that they have been approved for funding to assist with upgrading accessibility at Kells Swimming Pool - July 2015
The Group were successful in being approved for €48,000 in the recent HSE Lottery
Funding Grant Scheme. This funding will be supported by €8,000 which Special
Hands Group has raised itself as a community and voluntary group.
Communications and meetings have commenced with Meath County Council to draw
down the funding from the HSE and to work in partnership with Meath County
Council to provide fully accessible changing facilities for all. The works required
include appropriate hoists and changing facilities and would be in line with the
‘Changing Places’ campaign which has been commenced nationally by Inclusion
Ireland. Family changing areas also require upgrading to allow family members
assist those requiring extra help regardless of whether it is a mother or father who
takes their family member to swimming lessons.
At present Special Hands Activity Group organises excellent weekly swimming
classes specifically for children and young adults with disabilities at the Pool.
However, some members requiring adequate wheelchair access or hoists are excluded
from the classes due to need for upgrade works. On behalf of the parents, one parent
Gillian has stated ‘the upgrade works will allow all our children and young people
access activities in their own community with their friends and families. Swimming is
one of the best forms of exercise and is widely recognised by all health professionals
as having excellent health benefits for all.
The Group which is in existence since 2002, with members coming from across Co.
Meath wishes to thank Meath County Council, the elected representatives, the HSE
and Meath Local Sports Partnership for their ongoing support and looks forward to
new facilities in the coming months.
Funding Grant Scheme. This funding will be supported by €8,000 which Special
Hands Group has raised itself as a community and voluntary group.
Communications and meetings have commenced with Meath County Council to draw
down the funding from the HSE and to work in partnership with Meath County
Council to provide fully accessible changing facilities for all. The works required
include appropriate hoists and changing facilities and would be in line with the
‘Changing Places’ campaign which has been commenced nationally by Inclusion
Ireland. Family changing areas also require upgrading to allow family members
assist those requiring extra help regardless of whether it is a mother or father who
takes their family member to swimming lessons.
At present Special Hands Activity Group organises excellent weekly swimming
classes specifically for children and young adults with disabilities at the Pool.
However, some members requiring adequate wheelchair access or hoists are excluded
from the classes due to need for upgrade works. On behalf of the parents, one parent
Gillian has stated ‘the upgrade works will allow all our children and young people
access activities in their own community with their friends and families. Swimming is
one of the best forms of exercise and is widely recognised by all health professionals
as having excellent health benefits for all.
The Group which is in existence since 2002, with members coming from across Co.
Meath wishes to thank Meath County Council, the elected representatives, the HSE
and Meath Local Sports Partnership for their ongoing support and looks forward to
new facilities in the coming months.
Minister of State Damien English and Councillor Sarah Reilly Make Special Hands visit – July 2014
Special Hands Activity Group were delighted to meet with Minister of State Damien English and
Councillor Sarah Reilly at Kells Pool to explain the requirements needed for upgrade of access
facilities at the Pool.
Over 40 children and young people with varying disabilities receive swimming lessons from Pool staff
each week. Community volunteers provide excellent assistance in the Pool with each child or
young person receiving one to one assistance. The health and well being benefits to the Members
of Special Hands Activity Group are significant. However, those who require hoists cannot attend
as currently there is no suitable hoist in place. Access to the changing facilities is not directly to the
Pool deck area at present and more family orientated changing space/shower area is also required
Special Hands Activity Group are striving to make the Pool accessible for all. Chairperson Theresa
Olohan states that “when the changes are made the entire community will benefit from enhanced
facililities. We wish to thank pool staff for excellent swimming lessons and ongoing support.”
Councillor Sarah Reilly at Kells Pool to explain the requirements needed for upgrade of access
facilities at the Pool.
Over 40 children and young people with varying disabilities receive swimming lessons from Pool staff
each week. Community volunteers provide excellent assistance in the Pool with each child or
young person receiving one to one assistance. The health and well being benefits to the Members
of Special Hands Activity Group are significant. However, those who require hoists cannot attend
as currently there is no suitable hoist in place. Access to the changing facilities is not directly to the
Pool deck area at present and more family orientated changing space/shower area is also required
Special Hands Activity Group are striving to make the Pool accessible for all. Chairperson Theresa
Olohan states that “when the changes are made the entire community will benefit from enhanced
facililities. We wish to thank pool staff for excellent swimming lessons and ongoing support.”
