Raphoe Notes
Family Resource Centre
International Day of the Family
To celebrate International Day of the Family on Thursday 15th May Raphoe Family Resource Centre is hosting a day long programme of events for families and you are cordially invited to join with us for our celebrations. 
The 15th May also marks the 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family 1994 when the first ten Family Resource Centres were established in Ireland.
10.30am-12.30pm- A wee dander, launch of dementia-friendly initiatives and treasure hunt at Oakfield Park. Walk leaving from the Family Resource Centre at 10.30am.
A free shuttle bus service is available for those with restricted mobility.
The Family Resource Centre in association with Dementia Aware Donegal (DAD) will be launching two dementia-friendly initiatives at 11.00am at Oakfield, followed by a family treasure hunt. We would like to sincerely thank Sir Gerry and Lady Heather Robinson for their kind permission to hold the launch in such beautiful surroundings.
2.00-5.00pm-Photographic Exhibition in the Family Resource Centre. This year 2014 sees the 15th anniversary of a number of projects supported by the FRC such as the afterschool programme, Parent & Toddler Group and others so come along and see how you looked all those years ago!
5.00-6.30pm-Family Sports Day at the Terrace Field to include family-legged race, egg & spoon and crazy football.
7.00-9.00pm-The Family Kube (as not seen on TV!) in the Family Resource Centre.
All activities are free. Family registration will take place on Tuesday 6th May in the Family Resource Centre from 11.00am-1.00pm and from 6.30-7.30pm.
LITTLE SIMLES BIG DREAMS INVITIES YOU TO A TINY TUNES SESSIONS
Little Smiles Big Dreams invites you to 4 Tiny Tunes Sessions Held at the Raphoe FRC, the Tiny Tune Sessions are for pre-schoolers (0-3) on Wednesday 7th May, 14th May, 21st May and 28th May at 10.30am.
Limited numbers available call Melanie 0749145796/0873641503.
Its fun, engaging and interactive for you and your child. It enhances many areas of your child’s development and love of music through singing, dancing, movement, games, instruments and stories.
Many benefits include, learning to sing simple tunes and nursery rhymes, playing age appropriate percussion instruments, learning rhythm and timing to move and dance to music, making friends and having lots of fun, developing language, co-ordination and social skills, boosting confidence and learning routine and structure.
Fibromyalgia AWARENESS WEEKEND MAY 2014
Friday 9th May – Courtyard Shopping Centre Letterkenny
Awareness Stand 11am – 5pm
Saturday 10th May – Courtyard Shopping Centre Letterkenny
Awareness Stand 11am – 5pm
Sunday 11th May – Guest speaker on Oxygen Therapy & Donegal Group hosting support group from Drogheda, Clanree Hotel 4pm sharp – 6pm
€3 charge at the door
Everyone Welcome – please come Welcome Drogheda Crew
Monday 12th May- Courtyard Shopping Centre Letterkenny
Awareness Stand 11am – 5pm
THIS IS INTERNATIONAL FIBROMYALGIA AWARENESS DAY
Draw for Patchwork Quilt takes place 7pm
For more Information please contact
Jude 0863945008 / mikejay1@eircom.net
This is the most important time of the year for the group as we try to raise awareness of the condition. Again I thank you for your time in spreading the word.
I’d like to take this opportunity to invite you and yours to come along to any of the above events either in a professional or personal capacity, you are more than welcome. It would be great to have the media in attendance to support us. And we’ll have the camera’s at the ready of course!!
GROW COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS PROGRAMME
The Family Resource Centre is hosting the GROW Community Mental Health Awareness Programme for 4 consecutive Thursday mornings commencing on Thursday 8th May. Each of the 4 sessions will be of two- hour duration from 10.30am-12.30pm.
Week 1: Thursday 8th May-“Building Resilience”
Week 2: Thursday 15th May-“Stress Management”
Week 3: Thursday 22nd May-“Managing Anxiety and Depression”
Week 4: Thursday 29th May-“Introduction to Mindfulness/Stress Reduction Training”
The GROW Community Awareness Programme aims to develop thinking around the subject of mental health in general, its relevance to our lives today and the need and importance of maintaining one’s own mental health and general sense of well-being. In association with the see-change campaign we aim to create an environment where people are more open and positive in their attitude towards their mental health.
The programme is free of charge and all are welcome to attend. For further details and/or to book a place contact Maria on 086 7702860 or contact the Family Resource Centre on 074 9145796/087 3641503. The GROW Information Line number is 1890 474474; Website: www.grow.ie
Raphoe Summer Playscheme
Ra Sim Play would like to thank Glenda Ayton and Andrea McCobb for their help in organising the recent SK. Thank you to Centra, Raphoe, and The Diamond, Hairdressers for Vouchers. Also a special thanks to Pat at the Central Hotel, Raphoe for his generous donation and help, and to all the supplied food and donations from the Runners, walkers and the little one the bike. Kate and Eugene McGinley and our lovely Donegal Rose, Thank you to everybody.
The Playscheme will run this year in early July. Look out for further details as places will be limited.
Child Counselling Service:
The Family Resource Centre is pleased to announce that it is now in a position to provide a free and confidential Child Counselling Service, made possible from funding received from the Child and Family Agency. The Counsellor, a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist who is a member of the National Association of Psychotherapists will be available in the Family Resource Centre on Mondays (excluding Bank Holidays) from 11.30am-3.00pm. To make an appointment please contact 086 3969149. Please note, when it is considered to be appropriate parental/guardian consent will be required.
International Year of the Family:
The International Day of the Family will be celebrated all over the world on Thursday 15th May but this year there is an additional significance to the occasion as it is also the 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family, which in Ireland in 1994 heralded the first six or seven Family Resource Centres that were piloted mainly in the inner city of Dublin. Twenty years on there are now 106 FRCs nationally with 9 in Donegal. The Family Resource Centre in Raphoe will be hosting a number of family friendly events on the 15th May to mark the occasion so please watch this space for further details.
Dementia-friendly Initiatives:
As part of the International Year of the Family the Family Resource Centre will be officially launching two initiatives in association with Dementia Aware Donegal (DAD) which aim to raise awareness of dementia and to foster the inclusion of people living with dementia and their family carers. The initiatives are inclusive sports mornings and the extension of our Thursday morning walks to include the participation of people with dementia in ‘memory walks’ in and around the town centre. The initiatives will be supported by several volunteers and Transition Year students as well as staff from the FRC. The FRC would like to sincerely thank the TY Coordinators in the two local secondary schools for their support and cooperation with the initiatives.
Health and Well being Through Mindfulness
In the next coming weeks we will be running a new “health and well being through mindfulness” programme. This has been a very successful course that people have truly benefited from. The programme helps people build resilience to deal with life stresses and traumatic events. Mindfulness has been shown to be among the most effective skills in building emotional and mental resilience. Over the weeks this course will introduce participants to a range of mindfulness skills. This learning will lead to an increase in capacity and confidence in group members. Practice of these skills will lead to life long benefits. It is likely the course will take place on Friday mornings from 10.30-12.30 noon. If anyone is interested please contact Melanie at the FRC on 0749145796 / 0873641503.
SPRINGBOARD BOOK A PLACE ON OUR FORTHCOMINGSPRING PROGRAMME
PARENTS PLUS PROGRAMME
6-12YR OLDS
SPRINGBOARD FAMILY SUPPORT PROJECT ARE RUNNING AN EIGHT WEEK
PARENTS PLUS PROGRAMME –
A PRACTICAL & POSITIVE GUIDE TO PARENTING CHILDREN
TOPICS INCLUDE
BEING A RESPONSIVE PARENT.
ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTING CHILDREN.
PROMOTING CHILDREN’S LANGUAGE AND DEVELOPMENT.
HELPING CHILDREN CONCENTRATE AND LEARN
BUILDING CO- OPERATION IN YOUNG CHILDREN
MANAGING TANTRUMS, MISBEHAVIOUR AND PROBLEMS
This programme will commence Wednesday 30th April 2014
Wednesday Mornings from 10am – 12noon programme is free of charge
(Childcare & Travel can also be provided)
To book a place on our programme
Contact Springboard office on 074 9173918
A.S.I.S.T.
Raphoe Family Resource Centre is hosting the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (A.S.IS.T.) on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th July 2014 from 9.00am-4.30pm both days and we are now taking names of anyone interested in this informative training.
A.S.I.S. T. is a training course developed for both members of the public and professionals, and aims to enhance people’s skills to intervene until either the immediate risk of suicide is reduced or additional support or resources can be found.
The emphasis of the two-day workshop, which is free, is on suicide first aid, on helping a person at risk to stay safe and seek further help. To book a place please contact us on 074 9145796/087 3641503 or email raphoefrc@eircom.net
2 in 2 u Campaign
Does your boyfriend get jealous when you spend time with your friends?
Does he always phone or text when you’re out without him?
Do you avoid disagreeing with him in case he loses his temper?
If you have answered yes to any of the above, please think about taking a Relationship Health check at 2in2u.ie
BECAUSE IF SOMETHING FEELS WRONG, IT PROBABLY IS.
And remember, if anything about your relationship ever makes you feel anxious or worried, please call the Women’s Aid National Freephone Helpline on 1800 341 900, 10am-10pm, 7 days a week.
RAPHOE 5K
Raphoe 5k in association with Lifford Athletic Club will take place on Tuesday evening 15th July so don’t forget to pencil in the date! The race, which is now into its 4th year, and which is part of Donegal Co. Athletics Board’s Grand Prix Series has been incredibly successful thanks to the large number of entrants not only from the Raphoe area but from the surrounding towns of Lifford, Convoy, Castlefin, St.Johnston, Aghyaran as well as runners from Ballybofey, Letterkenny, Strabane and Derry.
Brendan O’Donnell, Lifford Athletic Club has been of tremendous support to the Family Resource Centre in the organising and running of this fundraising event and we would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Brendan for that support.
LITTLE SMILES WITH BIG DREAMS
Little Smiles with Big Dreams is a parent and toddler group that meets every Wednesday morning at 10.30am –12 noon in the Family Resource Centre. Anyone who is in care of a child where it is an aunt / uncle/ childminder or grandparent is welcome. The kiddies can get involved in Messy play, free play, story time and music time where the adult can enjoy a cuppa tea and meet other adults. Parent and Toddler are a great way to enhance your little one confidence and meet others their age. A light lunch is provided and a small cost of 50 cent per family.
Raphoe Tidy Towns Ltd Community Appeal 2014.
The Application for the town will be sent off before the end of May this year. Judging will be during the months of June, July and August. Thank you to everyone in our community for your great support over the years. You can help this year by tidying your gardens, painting, weeding, keeping your area litter free, putting out window boxes or hanging baskets. If you are the owner of a derelict property please help the town by tidying up before the end of May. Remember our deadline is the end of May…..Your help is needed and appreciated very much. Thank You.
The Tidy Towns would welcome Donations of Paint, Shrubs or Flowers for their ongoing work for the town. Please contact the Tidy Towns Office on 9145692. Thank You.
Congratulations to the New Playground
Raphoe Tidy Towns Ltd wish to congratulate all the committee and everyone concerned with the new Playground and wish all the children many happy days of fun and play in the years ahead.
HEALTHY WALKS
If you are in and around Raphoe and would like to keep fit, join us on our Healthy walk every Thursday morning at 10.30 a.m. The group meets in Raphoe Family Resource Centre. Everyone Welcome.
BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND SPECIAL OCCASIONS:
Do you know that Raphoe Family Resource Centre is available for children’s birthday parties and special occasions? To find out more please contact the Centre on 074 9145796.
WEEKLY EMPLOYMENT LIST
Raphoe Family Resource Centre receives an updated weekly employment list and if you are interested in receiving this list through e-mail or print-out please contact 074 9145796 or call into the Centre for more details.
COUNSELLING SERVICE:
The service which is free and confidential is by appointment only by telephoning 086 3601718.
Little Explorers Parent & Toddler Group
Parent and Toddler Group is an activity which allows Parents / guardians to attend a session which looks at different activities to promote learning and fun for children aged 0-4 years. Children will avail of a variety of activities which support their physical, social and emotional development as well as promoting their language development.
Parent and Toddler also give parent / guardians the opportunity to socialize and meet up in a warm caring stimulating environment. The activities on offer at Little Explorers are: Arts & Crafts, Physical Play, Circle and Rhyme Time & Information sessions for parents. Parents are provided with a healthy snack!!!! The Parent and toddler session runs every Tuesday morning from 11.00am – 12.30pm. Why not come along and have some fun!!!
Raphoe Boxing Club
On Sunday night last Raphoe’s Female king pin Cody Lafferty won her fifth title of the season when she was crowned N.W Zone champion at 31kgs. Well done Cody from all at the Raphoe club.
On Sunday evening Raphoe boxers Liam McMonagle and Oran Devine both had very impressive wins over highly rated opponents at a major tournament in the Clonmany Community Centre. On Saturday night next the Raphoe club will stage a major tournament in the Deele College sports hall and all proceeds will go to the Christian McCullagh Fund and club coach and matchmaker Gary McCullagh has secured 14 quality contests and as a bumper crowd is expected patrons are advised to be in their seats early as the action gets underway at 8pm sharp.
A very sincere thanks goes to Councilor frank McBrearty for his very generous donation from his Councilors Development Fund and for all his hard work behind the scenes for the club, as it is greatly appreciated.
Please note that all notes should be placed in the box provided in Raphoe Post Office by a Thursday before 4.00 p.m. or alternatively can be dropped into Raphoe Family Resource Centre or e-mailed to raphoefrc@eircom.net every Thursday to meet the print deadline.