Minister Kathleen Lynch officially opens new Centre in Mogeely
It was a day of celebration for families and staff at the Cork Association for Autism when Minister of State at the Department of Health Kathleen Lynch and the Deputy Mayor of Cork County Council Councillor Kevin O’Keeffe officially opened our new centre at Crobally, Mogeely on Tuesday February 16th.
Building work began on this project in March 2015 with the state of the art centre comprising of 4 activity rooms and a sensory room. National Lottery Funding along with Cork County Council funding and support from the people of Cork helped bring this project to life and the centre now provides day supports to 14 adults with autism aged between 18 and 28 years of age. Each individual on the programme has a person centred plan in place which focuses on their interests and objectives in life.
Clients enjoy a range of activities as part of their day service programme which include woodwork, art, dance, swimming and horticulture and are taught independent living skills at the centre. Joe Boyce from Fermoy who attends the day service first presented Minister Kathleen Lynch with a red rose before welcoming everybody to the opening saying ‘I love it here in Crobally and learn lots of new things like woodwork and enjoy walks around the grounds’. Crobally Service Centre is placed amongst extensive, beautiful landscaped gardens and the charity recently won a GIY Ireland garden so clients can also grow their own vegetables.
Minister Kathleen Lynch spoke at the opening saying ‘There is an increasing need for services and additional resources in the future and it is incredible to see what has been delivered here. Parents have a sense of relief on their faces when projects like this happen and they can only happen by having great people working on their behalf and by working in partnership with each other’.
Minister Kathleen Lynch and the Deputy Mayor of Cork County Council were both presented with a pottery bowl which was made at the centre before unveiling a plaque to mark the special day.
