1Summer Newsletter 08:Spring Newsletter 2008.qxd - St Joseph's ...

Job Shadow Initiative 2008 Presentation NightDavid Ryan, Michael Moynihan T.D. Brendan Cronin andConor Counihan.Joe Collins with his mother and Sheila O’Keeffe, Principalof the Holy Family School.David Ryan, Michael Moynihan T.D. Karen Smith andRay Lee.Following the great success of the Job ShadowInitiative Day on the 23rd April, the SupportedEmployment Programme held a specialpresentation night in the Charleville Park Hotel, onthe 24th April. The participants, Sofia Giraldi, JoeCollins, and Karen Smith (Holy Family School),Mairead Forde and Brendan Cronin (TESSTraining Centre) were presented with certificatesof participation from Michael Moynihan T.D. All theparticipants said they learned a lot and reallyenjoyed the experience.The employers, Ducon (Kanturk), Lees Centra(Charleville), Griffin Taxi’s (Charleville), 103.FMMallow and Conor Counihan, Manager of theCork Football team were also presented with acertificate of participation. A special presentationwas made to Greta Hickey, Tesco, Mallow for her2Mairead Forde, Noelle Mannix, Karen Smith andSofia Giraldi.continued support to our service users who havebeen on work experience there over the pastcouple of years.David Ryan from the Irish Association ofSupported Employment started the proceedingswith an insight into the I.A.S.E. Ger Cott, thePresident of the Charleville Chamber ofCommerce, congratulated everyone and wishedcontinued success to St. Joseph’s Foundation inthe future.Finally, Dr. O’Donnell, thanked all the employersfor the opportunities they have made available tothe service users at St. Joseph’s Foundation.A special word of thanks to Charleville Park Hotelwho gave us complimentary use of their beautifulHotel Conference Room. We hope to participatein Job Shadow Day 2009, so watch this space!

Cleaning-Training DepartmentSt Josephs FoundationNORTH CORK/SOUTH WEST LIMERICKSIBSHOPS – Children 8-12 yearsHelen Power with service users Elizabeth Curtin andDamien McCormackMy name is Helen Power, and I am Supervisor ofthe Cleaning Department in St. Joseph’sFoundation for the past eight months. Mybackground is catering, cleaning and caring. Weare currently training service users in the area ofcleaning. We have a list of duties which we followon a daily/weekly basis. At present, I am alsotraining a group of service users who are due tostart work in September in the HousekeepingDepartment at the Charleville Park Hotel. In thefuture I hope to do a booklet giving everyone abetter look at what we do. I also hope to introducea questionnaire for the areas which we clean atpresent for feedback and advice on changes. Iwould like to thank most sincerely all the serviceusers currently training with me for all theirinterest and hard work. Best of luck to the girls,Sibshops are opportunities for brothers and sisters ofsiblings with special needs to obtain peer support,education and advice within a recreational context. Itgives these siblings a chance to meet in a relaxed,leisurely setting and to discuss common joys andconcerns. It provides an opportunity to learn howothers manage situations and gives them opportunitiesto learn more about the implications of their brother’sor sister’s special needs.We hope that Sibshops will allow parents and otherprofessionals to learn more about theconcerns/opportunities frequently experienced bysiblings. They are not therapy groups although theireffect may be therapeutic for some children. Mostbrothers and sisters of people with special needs, liketheir parents, are doing very well, despite thechallenges posed by a family member’s illness ordisability. Sibshops however reflect a belief thatbrothers and sisters have much to offer one another, ifgiven the chance.The Sibshops are held on the first Saturday of everymonth in a child friendly environment in Charleville andare facilitated by a multi agency team of professionalsand volunteers. The team involves staff from St.Joseph’s Foundation, Le Cheile FRC, Mallow andAvondhu Development, Mallow. Children, from ages 8to12 years, can attend the Sibshops. It is also hopedto hold a Sibshop for teenagers in the Autumn.The contact details of the North Cork/South WestLimerick Sibshop are as follows:Primary Contact: Emer Williams, Phone: 0872785006ADULT EDUCATION - VEC (Art Classes)Co. Limerick VEC has assisted us this year by grantingus funding for Gillian Kenny, Art Teacher who startedher classes at the end of March. The service usersreally enjoy the classes and look forward to it eachweek. She hopes to display some of the completedwork before the classes finish in June.Picture shows Gillian at work with some of her3Sharon O’Brien celebrating her birthday withfriends.

Spring Fair 2008Rita Roche and Geraldine ColemanMaura O’Riordan, Denis Twomey and Mairead TwomeyShirley Woodage, Helen Healy and Ann O’CallaghanJohn O’Shea, Ciara O’Sullivan, Maura O’Sullivan, Rita Roche,Geraldine Coleman, Maureen Walsh.4Maurice Burns

We have had a busy and varied programme runningsince October of last year. We have been lucky tohave a number of outside tutors to deliver differentprogrammes.FETAC Level 1 - PERSONAL SAFETYIn October we had Jim Barrett a student who wascompleting a certificate course with NUI Maynooth –(Adult & Continuing Education). While on his fourmonth placement he delivered a FETAC Level 1module “Personal Safety” with nine service users, fivefrom the TESS Training Centre and four from the AdultServices.As these learners were amongst the first in Ireland toreceive FETAC Certification at Level 1 the occasionwas marked by the Minister for Education, Ms. MaryLADIES GROUPIn January we started our ladies group which ran fortwelve weeks. Jen Morey – Beauty Therapistattended these sessions and gave information andadvice on different beauty topics. The highlight ofeach session was the demonstration. Theparticipants took it in turn to be the guinea-pig whileshe demonstrated – Dermatological Facials, IndianHead Massage, Reflexology, Manicures andPedicures. Jen was a big hit with our ladies and weService users with Mary O’Connell and Helen Healyafter receiving their certificates from Minister forEducation Mary Hanafin.ADULT EDUCATIONCo. Cork VEC sponsor Adult Education classes for useach year and this year we have two groups, bothFETAC Level 1. The classes started on April 14th withJim Barrett as tutor and will end in June. Photo showsJim with some of the participants of the course.INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAMMEBallyhoura Leader Group are presently running a pilotprogramme with us. This programme hopes to preparepeople (people with a disability or people at adisadvantage) for independent living. The programme isbeing piloted in St. Joseph’s Foundation. Marian Quirkedelivers the main part of the programme, Mary Carrollthe advocacy and rights section, staff from MABS theMoney Management part. Nine service users participatein the programme which will run until October.Back to Education InitiativeMarian Cronin VEC tutor is with us again to giveorganic horticulture classes to different groups ofservice users. Marian’s classes are based in theorganic tunnel and in the sensory garden. Over thespring and summer months a variety of vegetablesand fruits are grown and used in the canteen.Mannix College Charleville continues to offer ourservice users two metalwork classes each week.Paddy Cooney teaches our service users atintroductory and FETAC Level 3.Our plans for the summer include our usual SummerDrama School sponsored by Cork County Councilwith Ann O’Regan and Thomas Wigandt.Our service users enjoy and gain a lot from thedifferent tutors/facilitators who come to the workshop.They bring expertise, variety and good humour andwe appreciate and are thankful to each one and to the5

HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL SPORTS DAYLeanne Shields running inthe relayPupils of H.F.S. getting serious about the girls v boys rounders game.Holy Family School sports day washeld on Friday May 15th. We hadgreat fun, we ran relay races andhad lots of other games. Pupilsfrom Boherbue ComprehensiveSchool joined us for the day andhelped to make it a fun day for allin Holy Family School. ConorCounihan, Ben and JerryO’Connor presented medals in theafternoon. The day finished withan ice-cream party in aid of theLiz Carroll and GillianChawke laughing all the wayto the winning line.H.F.S. pupils and sfaff enjoying their day trip to MallowGAA Complex.TAXI DAYThe taxi day out tookplace on Monday the26th May. Transportwas provided by thetaxi and bus drivers,organised by JohnGriffin. They went toCarrigoon GAAComplex in Mallow. Agreat day was had byall.6Sean O’Keeffe and Emma Moloneyenjoying their day at Mallow GAA Complex.

Padre Pio Pre-School - New PlaygroundEhijie Aire taking in the view of the newplayground at Padre Pio Pre-SchoolDeirdre & Rebecca (CIT Students) pictured withEllie Kirk in the new playground at Padre Pio-ORGANIC HORTICULTURAL CLASS7

Edel Quinn HouseOn March 28th Mass was celebratedin the House by Fr. McAuliffe P.P.(Bruree). He was introduced to eachof the residents by Emer Williams. “Iam delighted to put names and faceson the people that Maura and Anne(Eucharistic Ministers Bruree) aredashing off to every Saturday nightafter mass” he said.The large crowd in attendance werepleased and grateful for having beeninvited, it truly was an upliftingexperience. Likewise, the organisersof the occasion, must have found itencouraging, giving a sense ofparticipation and integration toeveryone present and a sense of howspecial Edel Quinn House is.The families of the residents, thepeople from the village, David, Donieand Emer, Edel Quinn staff members,Doctor and Mrs. O’Donnell, all helpedin making the occasion memorableand special.During mass Dr. O’Donnell read thescripture reading; Margaret Ryanread the Responsorial Psalm. Choirtrio, were Betty Doherty, Sheila Quiltyand Maria Whelan; Prayer ofThanksgiving cited by Emer Williams;background solo music by DavidDoyle.After Mass there was a rush to thekitchen, where kettles were singing,tea-pots scalding, a table full of “tastybites” and no-one was shy aboutcoming forward.The prayers having been said; thehouse having been blessed,friendship and good-will abounded,Carron ViewCarron View reopened on 26thFeburary 2008. Extensiverenovations were carried outbringing this unit to a very highstandard. Carron View provides aday service to Seanie Moynihan,Paddy Wall, William Hoare, SheilaCasey and Norma O’Flynn. Amass and blessing of the housewill be officiated by Fr. MichaelFitzgerald on May 22nd. Wewould like to thank our neighboursin Knockardandrum for theirpatience during the refurbishment.Sinead O’Sullivan & StaffMartin McCourt who became theproud grand uncle to Isabella KateWalsh on 18/4/08 - Martin is lookingforward to the Christening in June.Commings & GoingsWelcome to…Eileen CreminLisa KeaneMary Sol WebbSharon O’DonovanSinead O’SullivanMarion KeaneGoodbye to…..Emily AherneMartin Buckley8ST. JOSEPH’S FOUNDATIONSPRING FAIR 2008The Foundation held its annual SpringFair on Sunday, April 27th. Despitevery inclement weather conditions,there was a good attendance. Finalfigures are not yet available but itwould appear that the event was agood success financially. We are verygrateful to all who helped on Fridayand Saturday to prepare for the eventand to all who attended on the day.PRIZE WINNERSMAIN RAFFLE - PRIZE WINNERS.1st prize: €1,000 - Sean Doyle,Ballyhubba, Charleville.2nd Prize: €500 - Colette Collins, 14.Canon Sheehan Place, Doneraile.3rd. Prize €250 - Eileen Fehin,Seeds, Dromcollogher, Co. Limerick.OTHER RAFFLESHereford Heifer Calf: Ivan & GerardLinehan, Broghill South, Charleville.Signed Munster Rugby Jersey:Caoimhe O’Driscoll, 24. Bruhenny,Churchtown, Mallow.Lunch for Four at the Forge CoffeeShop, Charleville: Jascinta Kirby,Brickfield, Effin, Kilmallock.Euro in the Jar: Matthew Murphy,Port Road, Garryspillane, Co.Limerick.GOLF PUTTING COMPETITION1st: Sam Holt, Love Lane,Charleville,2nd: Cliona O’Callaghan,Farthingville, Dromina.BASKETBALL COMPETITIONUnder 12s1st Place: Kathleen O’Reilly.2nd. Place: Dan O’Doherty,Over 12s1st Place Mary Anne O’Reilly.2nd Place Gavin Kelleher.Forge Coffee Shop staff celebrating with Clare Healy before herdeparture to Australia.