Crunch talks to secure the future of Cahersiveen centre

Committee behind Community Centre say it’s make or break time due to swinging cuts to facility’s funding

A MEETING is to take place next month with the CEO of Kerry County Council, Moira Murrell, in an attempt to secure the future of the Cahersiveen Community Resource Centre, which is currently fundraising to pay off their debts.

In January of this year Cahersiveen Community Resource Centre held a public meeting, after making a decision to no longer continue with Pobal funding for the centre.

Though funding has been granted for another three years until 2020, the committee felt it was not viable as it was not enough funding to run the centre; meaning the shortfall to pay wages and other running costs had to be met by the centre.

This led to a debt of almost €10,000 which the board are now trying to repay through fundraising efforts.

Once this debt is paid the committee says it hopes to find a new way of moving forward and will look at a number of options.

One of these is to meet with Kerry County Council to seek renovations on the building, which is owned by the local authority.

A third party is interested in taking over the centre and will continue to facilitate the services currently being provided at the centre. This includes a mother and toddler group, a card group, bingo and the active retired group.

Chairperson of Cahersiveen Community Resource Centre, Alan Landers, says that the future for the centre is looking “optimistic”.

“We couldn’t justify remaining with Pobal funding. The losses would have got bigger and bigger,” he explained.

The local community has rallied around the efforts to secure the future of the centre through the fundraising drive Friends of Cahersiveen Community Resource Centre, supported by a Go Fund Me page.

Donations to date include €1,000 from Puffins Childcare Centre after they won the St Patrick’s day best float award as well as €1,000 from the local Bingo group. Funds have also been donated from the Christmas Day Swim.

Donations have also come in from abroad.

Almost €5,000 has been raised to date.

“The support has been great,” says Alan. A raffle is taking place this Friday for a hamper for all those who have donated to date and if you want to be in with a chance to win the hamper from Supervalue you can still make a donation on the Go Fund Me page or contact Alan Landers or Eamon Casey to become a Friend of the centre.

Photo by Christy Riordan. Pictured outside the Cahersiveen Carnegie Community Centre promoting their fundraising drive for Friends of the Centre were l-r; Alan Landers(Chairman), Marian Cournane(Committee) & Eamon Casey(Treasurer).