This week I had the pleasure of meeting Laura Dee who introduced me to everyone at a new social club in Listowel called New Horizons, situated in the X-istance cafe on William Street.
Laura, an experienced worker from the local Nano Nagle School and her colleague Sharon O’Connor, also an experienced worker from Kerry Parents and Friends, helped to initiate New Horizons, which is a youth club for young adults with additional challenges. Here they can meet their friends, hang out, maybe play on the Play Station or do some art, basically whatever they want in a safe secure environment.
“New Horizons has been set up since October 2014 as a social club, filling the gap for these young adults” Laura explained.
It was lovely to find out that even though they currently do not have a social media presence or a web page advertising their club, word of mouth has spread very quickly and they now have twenty one members with more waiting to join. Along with this, residents of two community houses run by Kerry Parents and Friends Association are also involved in the group as part of their community integration.
The club members are asked to pay a €1 donation each week which allows them to enjoy tea and biscuits, relax and chat with their friends and make some new ones.
Laura tells me that the X-istance cafe and their staff are a substantial help to this club. They facilitate the use of their premises each week free of charge and offer their own staff to help if needed.
Sinead Joy, Laura Dee, Dave Shannon and Marguerite O’Brien
Marguerite, a volunteer who found the club through Kerry Volunteer Centre’s list of volunteer opportunities is currently studying for a care qualification. “Marguerite felt helping here added to her experience” Laura told me.
The cafe targets eighteen year olds and older within North Kerry, but they are well aware that for some transport to the club is a problem. “The nearest other place similar to this is in Tralee, quite a distance to travel for a lot of our members” Laura explained. Laura said there are young adults in Abbeyfeale that would benefit from joining the club now but because of the distance it is not possible.
Laura told me “The club would like to progress to the occasional outing for example at Christmas. We have not done any fundraising yet and grant aid would help progress the club as we do not want to add financial pressure to the parents“.
I then had the pleasure of chatting to Antoinette O’Sullivan one of their well known members with her own following on her public face book page – Antoinette ‘The Apert Syndrome Rock Star‘. Antoinette said that she “would be sitting at home watching TV if the club was not here”. She “would like some outings” and likes “meeting with friends and the theme nights.”
I chatted to Kasia Gorzalosynska a lovely enthusiastic art tutor freely giving her time as a weekly volunteer to help harness the creativity of the club members. Art materials are supplied by the cafe she said and the abundance of talent is very apparent everywhere. Kasia whose name she tells me is Polish for Katie enjoys being a volunteer very much. “If you have it in here” she held her hand to her heart “then you can give” she said. Kasia is very proud of the work the club members create and is happy to show it off.
Laura finished off by praising the X-istance cafe as a huge benefit to the area, a real hub of activity she said. She also wanted to let me know about some of the acting talents of a few of the members. Some have roles in the Mama Mia play presented by St John of Gods and she also told me about how they had a theme movie night for Mama Mia.
New Horizons are doing a fantastic job, my visit to the club was a pleasure and I was made to feel very welcome. From the street the door is secure so to enter just knock for one of the helpers to let you in. It is very nice to know that even during these difficult times social clubs like this are still developing.
New Horizons need support and have the following volunteer opportunities available:
Musician/Singer
Befriender
Zumba / Salsa Tutor
Relaxation Facilitator
Click on the roles above for more information and to apply. Laura said “we are here on Wednesdays, 7pm until 8.45pm, call in have a chat or cup of tea and see for yourself“.
If you would like to contribute or find out more about the club contact Sharon O’Connor on 087 9000505.
Written by Wendy Brosnahan
