Raphoe
RAPHOE NOTES:
Raphoe Family Resource Centre:
Welcome back!
We would like to welcome back all of the members of our groups after the Christmas holiday period. For children and young people the Afterschool Programme, Young Boys Group, Young Girls Group, the Youth Café and Learning Support Groups have all resumed as has our ‘Little Smiles Parent & Toddler Group. We would like to thank our 2 Tús General Workers, Aidan and Damien for painting such colourful murals in the Volt House Hall which now add to the setting for our babies and toddlers. The Thursday morning Walking Group, the Women’s Group, and the ‘Something Special’ Support Group have also started back for the New Year ahead as has the Roots of Empathy Programme in Raphoe Central National School.
Hip-hop dancing with Sinead continues on Tuesday evenings from 6.45-8.45pm as does Yoga with Jane (Thursday 4-5pm) and Irish Dancing with McCaul Academy (Thursday 5-6pm).
If you are an older person or person with mobility difficulties our ‘Helping Hands’ Tús Workers are available to carry out odd jobs outside your home. For further information on ‘Helping Hands’ please contact Laura on 074-9145796/087-3641503.
Seniors Alert Scheme
The objective of the Seniors Alert Scheme is to encourage community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons of limited means to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind.
Funding is available under the scheme towards the purchase of equipment by a registered organisation i.e. personal alarm and/or pendant. The associated monitoring and service charges must be paid by the participant.
A person will be eligible if he or she is:
• Aged 65 years or older; and
• Of limited means or resources; and
• Living alone, living with another person who meets the eligibility criteria; and
• Resides within geographical area of the relevant registered organisation; and
• Able to benefit from the equipment supplied; and
• Are prepared to maintain contact with the registered organisation.
Raphoe Family Resource Centre has now taken over the administration of the Scheme. Therefore, if you or anyone you know are eligible for the scheme please do not hesitate to contact Laura at Raphoe Family Resource Centre on (074)9145796 or 0873641503 or alternatively call into our office located on the second floor of The Volt House, Raphoe. We would like to take this opportunity to thank The Friday Club based in The Volt House for all its excellent work with this Scheme going back many years.
Make 1 Change Campaign 2016
The 2016 “Make 1 Change” Campaign was launched in the Educate Together National School in Letterkenny. The Campaign, which is an initiative of the Parent Hub, Donegal, asks parents to make one small change to improve family life as part of their New Year’s Resolutions. The Campaign has been very successful since its launch in 2014 and past participants have commented on the benefits of making small changes to overall family functioning.
One parent who partook in the Campaign in 2015 said, “This has helped us to re-evaluate our time and made us realize that we had not been spending as much time together. As with most families today, having access to computers and TV etc., we forgot what it was like to bring things back to basics and start baking together and going for walks. It’s made us a lot closer and I think it’s a fantastic idea to help family’s think about their spare time and the importance of strengthening relationships and spend much needed quality time with our kids by having fun together. The memories are priceless for them and for us adults.”
In the past families have committed to changes such as spending more time outdoors together, eating meals together, spending less time on electronic devices, spending more time talking to each other, playing board games and watching family movies together. Parents have also committed to reading to younger children or starting to develop an interest they can do together with older children. The aim of the Campaign is to highlight the importance of family life and how we all need to work at keeping the lines of communication open with our children and young people. All families who commit to making a change are entered into a free draw for family friendly prizes which include a 3 month family membership for Aura Leisure Centre, Family Passes for Century Cinema, Vouchers for Arena Seven and Entrance to Tropical World.
This year numerous schools across the county have committed to promoting the Campaign through their Websites or by sending out the Make One Change Leaflets to families. If you have not received a leaflet through your school you can get information on the Campaign by going on to the ParentHub Facebook page at https//www.facebook.com/parenthubdonegal. Parents can also email nicolac.harvey@tusla.ie with the Change they are committing to be entered in the free draw. The closing date for receipt of entries is the 15th January 2016.
The Parent Hub would like to thank all those who have sponsored prizes in this year’s Campaign.
BTEI Care in the Community
Donegal Education and Training Board will be delivering Care in the Community QQI (FETAC) Level 5 in Raphoe in the New Year. Elements include Care Skills, Occupational First Aid, Patient Handling and Manual Handling. The module will be run through the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) that provides part-time further education programmes for young people and adults. The aim is to give people an opportunity to combine a return to learning with family, work and other responsibilities.
Anyone who has left full-time education can take part. However, priority will be given to those with less than upper second level education. Certification is offered to all participants.
Objectives of the module include: to assist the participants to recognise the different types of clients needing care, different types of care needs and the differing care needs of clients; to enable participants to develop the necessary knowledge to respond effectively to clients’ individual needs with their involvement and their use of choice; to assist participants to acquire practical skills in the area of client personal care; to enable participants to develop the knowledge and skills required for the maintenance of a safe, healthy and hygienic environment for clients.
For further information please contact Siobhan Coughlan, BTEI Learner Support Worker on 074-9725520 or email siobhancoughlan@donegaletb.ie
Raphoe Boxing Club
Congratulations goes to Raphoe’s Ballindrait based power puncher Tom Doherty who was crowned Ulster Nine-County Novice Champion on Sunday last at the championships held in Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone. Well done Tom from all your Club mates.
The winners of the Club’s Christmas fundraising draw were 1st Prize – Lorraine Doherty, Ballindrait; 2nd Prize – Christian McCullagh, Raphoe; 3rd Prize – Joshua McNamara, Raphoe and 4th Prize -Tom Doherty, Ballindrait. Very special thanks go to Ciaran McCullagh, Siobhan Lafferty and Christy O’Donnell who kindly sponsored the prizes and to everyone who bought tickets. Your support is greatly appreciated. It is a very busy time ahead for club boxers as Dennis Lafferty will be in action at the Maldron Hotel, Derry on Friday 15th January and Tom Doherty will be in action at a major tournament on the same night at the Halfway House, Burnfoot.
Raphoe New Years’ Day 5k
Raphoe Road Runners hosted a very successful 5K on New Years’ Day and were delighted with the turnout and support from the local community and the local Running Clubs. A big thank you to everyone who helped especially Gary McCullagh and Peter O’Donnell of the Boxing Club, Chloe Magee, the Gardaí, Edward Coyle, Mark McCarron, Reynolds of Raphoe, Raphoe Scout Troop, the Stewards and Marshals who ensured safety on the day, Mike Kelly for the Railings, Tom Thompson, Neil Martin and the Local Community who helped in any way and who came out on the day to support our 5K, all Running Clubs for supporting us, Registration personnel and the Time Keepers. The Raphoe Road Runners themselves who provided spot prizes and a big Thank You to our sponsors who provided the overall category prizes and who were mentioned on the day. Proceeds of the Run will go to The Friday Club, who provide a very good service for our Senior Citizens in Raphoe. Donations will be made to the Raphoe Scout Troop, The Boxing Club and The Raphoe Community Playground.
Slimming World Raphoe
Do you want to live happy and feel great? Find out how at Raphoe Slimming World. Come join our warm and friendly group every Tuesday night in the Cathedral Hall at 7.00pm. Make 2016 your year to live happy, get healthy and feel great. Contact Geraldine on 086-3348048.
Please note that items for the Raphoe Notes should be placed in the box provided in the Post Office on or before 12 noon on Fridays. Items can also be emailed to raphoefrc@eircom.net or handed in to the Family Resource Centre, The Volt House. Items should be submitted at least one week in advance of publication of local press.
