WIN OVER 'HARD-TO-REACH' PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY!

If you're a community worker wrecking your head over how to get people involved in activities, check out page 13 of the latest issue as well as the following:

[ED'S NOTE - THIS REPORT HERE IS ADDITIONAL TO THE COVERAGE IN OUR LATEST PRINT EDITION ABOUT A PILOT PROJECT FOR PARENTS IN LIMERICK].

A “youth club for grown-ups”

- a volunteer/participant view

Helen Ring is a local parent and community volunteer with the Time Out Club in Our Lady of Lourdes/Weston, a successful pilot scheme that that could be copied by any community (there’s a template available).

She told 'Changing Ireland':

- The group named the project themselves.

- They decide at the beginning what activities they’d like to do.

- The age-range is from 20-57 and the door is open to anyone.

- It really develops your confidence.

- It’s the only new group to form in recent times in our community.

- The participants don’t pay for anything.

“There are 17 in the group now and we find it great, relaxing, a way of getting out of the house," said Helen. "It’s especially important now with the recession to get a break, it’s time out for ourselves and it’s whatever we want to do that counts.”

“Everything we do now is a one-off and we’re always trying something new, every week – anything from hairdressing lessons to canvas printing to guest-talks - it’s a youth club for grown ups,” said Helen.

One of the more unusual things the women learned how to do was to make small rocking-chairs for children.

They’ve also had a child-expert in to run a course called ‘Cool Talking’ which has done wonders for relations between mothers and their teenagers: “I’ve two teenage girls and an 11-year-old son and an older son who’s getting married soon.

“Now I’ve learned to listen and talk rather than going in screaming! One woman says her son has become tidier because of her doing that course and we’ve all become better listeners. I’d recommend this course even for young parents.”

“Every community should have a time-out club for its women. Just try it!”

Helen does so much volunteering that her neighbours think she’s got a paid job. An example of one small thing she does is every Tuesday she sends out a reminder text to parents about the Time Out Club. Small things matter!

See further coverage on page 13 of our Spring 2011 issue (click here!).

CAPTION: Time Out Club members.