SICCDA launch mediation service

By Sarah Reilly

Taragh O’ Kelly was one of 30 lucky winners in the Vodafone World of Difference competition.

The award will enable Taragh to work for three months for  the South Inner City Community Development Association (SICCDA) to promote the new community mediation service.

Taragh’s work with the SICCDA involves raising local awareness of the service and to get this vital project up and running.

“The aim of mediation is to help the people involved in a dispute to reach an agreement acceptable to both sides,” she said. “Mediation can be a time saving and cost effective alternative to taking legal action to resolve a dispute.”

Taragh is a trained and accredited mediator.

She has many years of management experience in diverse and challenging environments. As a Human Resources manager, she gained significant insight into resolving a wide variety of workplace issues and human conflicts.

“I am an empathic and client focused individual with excellent interpersonal and communication skills,” she said, adding “I am approachable and have an ability to build relationships with people from all walks of life.”

Taragh can be contacted by phone on (01) 453 6098 or emailed at taragh@siccda.ie

Older Persons security grants available

Kay King, co-ordinator of services to older people in the SICCDA, recently highlighted the availability of security grants to older persons needing to install new security systems.

The grants are funded by the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht affairs.

Kay King is also available to discuss the courses and facilities available for older people within the community. These include blood pressure health checks and the age well clinic.

There are also many social facilities available including tea and coffee mornings. For fitness, older people are invited to get involved in the water aerobics classes.

Kay King can be contacted by phone on 01-453 6098 or emailed at kking@siccda.ie for further information.

The 41^st Liberties Festival

SICCDA co-ordinator Michael Conlon is currently organising the 41^st Liberties Festival, which will take place in June.

Michael is looking for residents, dancers, musicians, artists, groups and clubs within the Liberties to take part in this special community celebration.

Michael Conlon described the festival as a major event that enhances the lives of those living in the Liberties. He said it creates a sense of identity for the older residents and the new communities.

“It also has the potential and capacity to host international acts and to create jobs and boost the local economy,” he added.

The festival committee goal is to create and grow a community-based festival with international links, top class acts and contribute to the social and economic well-being of the area.  SICCDA are focused on driving this vision through to the 50^th Anniversary, with the aim of putting the Liberties Festival firmly on the map.

People or groups who would like to partake in the up-and-coming festival can contact Michael on 01-453 6098 or email him at mconlon@siccda.ie

Job vacancies for childcare workers and afterschool programme news

Initially launched in 2001, SICCDA’s afterschool programme provides daily afterschool childcare to around 100 children living in the Liberties area of Dublin 8.

The programmes provide participants with homework support, nutritious snacks and enriching extra-curricular activities in a warm, child-friendly environment.

All part-time staff must have a childcare qualification at FETAC Level 5 or qualifications in a related discipline such as teaching. These are supplemented by community employment participants.

SICCDA operate the facility in partnership with local schools. All participants are referred to the organisation by school management.

This means that to be considered for a place on the programme, a child must be a pupil at one of the programmes partner schools. These schools include: Scoil San Seamus CBS, Basin Lane (contact: Niamh Kavanagh), St Enda’s National School, Whitefriar Street (contact: Johanna Doherty) and Francis Street CBS, Francis Street (contact: Victoria McQuaid,).

SICCDA currently have vacancies for three childcare workers, two of whom must be eligible for Community Employment with FAS and one who will be directly employed by SICCDA. Local people, with some experience of working with children, are encouraged to apply for these positions by close of business on 11 March.  Contact SICCDA’s main office on 90, Meath Street for details.

For further information on the Afterschool Programme, contact manager Conor Mc Kinney on 01-453 6098 or email him at cmckinney@siccda.ie.