Minister for Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs Eammon O' Cuiv on a visit to the centre on Friday 25th April 2008
Welcome to The Knockanrawley Resource Centre. We provide facilities in the following areas...
Community Development
Training and Education
Psychotherapy and Family Therapy
Organic Garden
Daisychain Childcare Centre
Other Resources at KRC
From Small Beginnings - How it all started...
In 1988 the Pearse Park Community Association was formed by an election of the residents under the leadership of the late Sr Joan Madden. The biggest project the association undertook was to build Knockanrawley Resource Centre. Following a major fundraising campaign and with the help of a FAS youth community training scheme, the centre was started.
The building officially opened on September 8th 1991. The following day, an administrator and four workers employed under a FAS social economy scheme started the work that is still continuing today.
Over the years the centre has grown and in January 2008 completed a major extension and refurbishing project costing almost €1 million which includes four spacious childcare rooms, a training room and four offices/meeting rooms. To-day it employs approximately 50 staff and had an annual turnover of €1,055,189 in 2008
From the beginning, Knockanrawley Resource Centre, as a community development project was concerned with meeting the unmet needs of the local community in Tipperary Town and surrounding areas. Its growth is a result of the dedication, energy and commitment of Sr Joan, staff and volunteers. Its success is due to the ability to develop partnership arrangements with statutory and other bodies. The excellent facilities and the wide range of resources that are now available at KRC are an invaluable asset to the community.
Vision Statement
Community participation for new beginnings.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to encourage, foster and empower people, groups and the community as a whole to identify and make changes that enhance their lives.
To do this we:
- Work from the Community Development Principles of being open to, and encouraging participation by all sections of our community.
- Offer new oppurtunities for personal, group and community development, training, education and support services, particularly to those lacking choice, resources and power.
- Support and work with the community and other groups to promote positive changes in policy that affect them.
Community Development Principles
- We focus our work on the needs of those in the community who experience social exclusion.
- We support and encourage the community to be involved in all aspects of the process of identifying and addressing their needs.
- We value the diverse contribution of all our members of our society and oppose unfair discrimination.
- We work in partnership with other groups and organisations, believing that by people coming together we can challenge the causes of poverty and disadvantage and bring about positive change.
- No group or individual will have the right to impose an agenda or pursue a personal or political stance that is contrary to these principles.
Activities at Knockanrawley Resource Centre...
The centre is managed by a Voluntary Management Committee comprised of volunteers from the local community, all of whom have participated in the activities of the centre.
The centre has five different sections, which are each run by a Co-ordinator and staff under the direction of the Centre Director. Each section has a sub-group which includes staff, management and members of the community who use the service / resource.
The five sections are as follows:
Community Development: The Community development section provides a process whereby people can develop the necessary confidence, knowledge, skills and attitudes to effect real change in their own lives and within their own community.
^^Top^^
Training and Education: Operating from the principles of community education we encourage people to continue or restart the process of learning and self education, providing courses which enhance personal, social, skills and community development.
^^Top^^
Psychotherapy and Family Therapy: Offers assistance and support to couples, families and individuals experiencing stress or difficulties in their lives, and those wishing to enhance their relationships and the quality of their lives.
^^Top^^
Organic Garden: Generates produce for sale and also acts as a training resource in environmental issues and horticulture.
^^Top^^
Daisychain Childcare Centre: Provides quality affordable childcare for approx 133 children ranging from babies to afterschools care. This enables parents to avail of training, education and employment opportunities and to participate in the process of Community Development.
We also host an outreach service for women who experience domestic violence. This is provided by the Cuan Saor refuge in Clonmel. A H.S.E.addiction counsellor also provides an outreach service from the centre. We also host Probation and Welfare outreach services for offenders.
The centre also works in conjunction with organisations such as FAS without whom we would not have our very valuable Community Employment ( C.E.) or Linkwork schemes. The C.E. scheme provides a very necessary staff resource with participants working in a number of areas within the centre such as Childcare, Reception and the Organic garden. These schemes offer participants an opportunity to obtain on the job work experience and also gain formal training qualifications in their chosen area. We are delighted to say that we have a very high success rate of people obtaining permanent employment from these schemes.
^^Top^^