WORK IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES
horticulture, environmental, event management, reception, digital marketing and customer service.
Ballycullane-Clongeen-Horeswood Community Employment Scheme spans an area covering Horeswood, Dunbrody, Tintern, Ballycullane, Clongeen, Wellingtonbridge, Campile, Ballymitty, Fethard on Sea, Duncannon, Gusserane, Foulksmills, Ballykelly, Whitechurch, St Leonards and Wexford town.
Maire Jackman of the scheme said: ‘We cover a wide variety of work activities and projects including tidy towns, caretaking, childcare, walking trails in Tintern, horticultural work and administration. The scheme offers participants the opportunity to gain work experience and funded training and to avail of coaching and mentoring in CV preparation and interview skills in a supportive environment.’
Grantstown Community Village is part of Grantstown Priory Scheme. Grantstown Community Village Manager Lesley Jones said: ‘We run a day care centre in our community hall five days a week. The centre sets out to provide local adults with a change of scenery and outside companionship for a few hours a day.’
It offers a wide range of services and can facilitate up to 50 people daily. The CE Scheme participants assist with the running of the day care centre and it could not operate without the valuable participants and volunteers. ‘We offer breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea to clients and the residents in the houses. Some of our services include activities and occasional outings, nursing services, showering facilities, Meals on Wheels, arts and crafts, hairdresser, chiropodist, physiotherapists, complimentary therapies, transport to and from the centre in our mini buses. We have a Peace Garden that our CE participants have been involved with from the planting of seeds to mowing lawns and looking after our beautiful water feature.’
All participants are given an individual training programme to help them with their development, e.g. caring, cooking, driving, laundry and maintenance skills and at the same time receiving valuable work experience. Ms Jones said a high level of our participants gain long term employment. The centre can be contacted at 051 561016.
South West Wexford Family Resource Centre is based in the old St. Louis Convent in the village of Ramsgrange, where it has operated a Community Employment Scheme for over 23 years. CE scheme co-ordinator Tilly Carroll said throughout this time, the benefits to the centre have been enormous with participants gaining much valuable work experience in very areas such as childcare, reception, maintenance, youth, administration, caretaker; community café and general workers. ‘Without the CE Scheme, the centre could not continue to offer quality service and continue to operate to its full potential. At South West Wexford FRC we are very fortunate in that over the years many participants have gone on to full or part-time employment, become self-employed or gone back to third level education.’
For further information, contact Tilly Carroll, CE Scheme Supervisor, on 051 389418.
Ann Kent, who participated in the scheme, said: ‘Three years ago I applied for a position on Community Employment Scheme as a cleaner for Sugradh Child Care Centre in South West Wexford Family Resource Centre. This was a leap of faith for me as I had been a home maker for the past 20 years and my personal life had taken a severe nose dive. A while after attending an interview I was offered the position. To say that I was extremely nervous was an understatement, going into a place of employment for the first time in over 20 years took a lot of courage. All my nerves dissipated as everyone I met on that first day were really friendly and welcoming.
‘As time went on I participated in Business Administration pilot programme for C.E participants. I completed all eight modules with distinctions. At times I found it difficult, but also enjoyable. I was so proud of myself for the first time in years. I am currently participating in a Social Studies programme which I find really interesting. Taking part in this Community Employment Scheme has changed my life completely in every aspect. My confidence has grown, I have got back into education and I have made lots of new friends, some of which I know will last a lifetime. Without the support and encouragement of my C.E supervisor Tilly Carroll and Childcare manager Marie Murphy none of this would have been possible and I am truly grateful to them both as I am to all staff and C.E participants. I was very lucky to have this opportunity and now I move on to the next chapter in my life as much stronger and confidant person.’
South East Community Services Wexford Ltd has been in operation since 1993. Supervisor Colette Kennedy, said since its foundation in 1993, the success and longevity of the scheme is down to two main factors, the highly skilled participants who have been involved in the various projects throughout the years and the dedication of the sponsors, all of whom are volunteers and devote so much time to the development of their local communities.
‘Our scheme is involved in various Tidy Village projects including award winning villages: Tomhaggard, Duncormick and Kilmore. Our projects in Wexford Community Development and Tots to Teens Childcare have been highly successful in internal employment progression and several community centres open to the public as a direct result of Community Employment. We also assist with a variety of clubs including Wexford Celtic AFC, St Fintan’s GAA, St Anne’s GAA and Wexford Gymnastics Club.’
A key feature of the scheme is that it offers participants the opportunity to engage in accredited training.