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Volunteer of the Month September – Tara O’Donovan

We are delighted to announce Tara O’Donovan as our September Volunteer of the Month. Tara is a very active member of the Crann community having volunteered at a variety of events including our Children’s Summer Camp, which took place here at the Crann Centre in July. 

Tara has made a tremendous contribution of her time to help all those at the Crann Centre and we are thrilled to recognize her effort. 

”All it takes is a little bit of adaptability and everyone can be involved” – Tara O’Donovan

Crann Centre CEO Padraig Mallon, recently attended University College Cork Disability Support Service’s Employability Forum hosted by VMWare Ballincollig, which held a focus on disability initiatives.  

The forum which took place on Tuesday September 10th looked at how various organisations and companies could develop disability initiatives, promote an inclusive community,  enhance diversity in the workplace and educate staff members. Crann working in conjunction with UCC and promoting this has acted as an advocate for disability inclusion. 

Forums such as this provide an opportunity for Crann to inform companies of the needs of those with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus and how they can advance their diversity and inclusion by facilitating those with disabilities. Similarly, such forums allow Crann to build networks and work alongside larger companies developing best practice and initiative.  

Crann and UCC Disability Support Service continue their strong association through events such as this, providing advice and information which help to inform the services we provide at Crann with emphasis on education and employment. …

This week saw both our Children’s and Teenager’s Workshops finish here at the Crann Centre. 

After four consecutive weeks the workshops finished just in time for school. The workshops have been packed with different, creative and fun activities all with the greater purpose of building friendships and understanding. 

Uniqueness of Difference – Our children’s workshop, finished Wednesday. Over the previous four weeks the children explored the idea of difference and how all individuals are different. The workshop also gave the children an opportunity to explore their feelings, emotions and opinions on difference and how they could best express them. 

Growing in Confidence – Our teenagers workshop finished Thursday. Over the past few weeks the teens have explored the idea and importance of resilience in building confidence.…

We are very pleased to announce that Ms Colette Cahill has been appointed to the role of Head of Services here at the Crann Centre. Colette is no stranger to Crann having worked with the charity over the past two years developing and delivering programmes such ”A Moment For Me”, ”Uniqueness Of Difference” and Growing In Confidence”.

Padraig Mallon Crann Centre CEO welcomed Colette’s appointment. He said that  “Colette’s background in counselling and neuro-developmental therapy alongside her experience in supporting those with disabilities made her an ideal candidate”. 

 Colette says that she is “ really excited to take up the role as Head of Services and is really looking forward to working with the team to develop and grow the programmes, workshops and services Crann will be offering’’.…

This week saw our summer camp take place where children aged between 5 and 15 engaged in a whole range of activities and made friends along the way.

Monday morning saw the children tackle the great outdoors with a series of tennis games at the local courts, the rain held off as the children practiced their swing and worked up an appetite for lunch. The afternoon saw yoga stretches and creative art along with some demonstrations from those in the Turas Saol wheelchair skills programme.

Tuesday began with a bang as archery practice had everyone including the volunteers aiming for bullseye. A few rounds of dodgeball led into the musically symphony that was our summer camp band. The children drummed and sang along to classic’s such as the Beatles and Queen, even getting the opportunity to come up with their own pieces.…

Friday July 19^th saw the hard work, determination and dedication of a group wheelchair users at the Crann Centre pay off.

Family and friends of the young people involved were invited to a ceremony in the Centre to celebrate their efforts. Paul Ryan course coordinator and a group of young Occupational and Physical therapists who facilitated the training, talked all those present through the journey undertaken by the young people. We were treated to thrilling demonstrations, promoting not only the skills they had attained but the confidence and joy it had brought to them.

Kate Jarvey founder of the Crann Centre and Cal Healy from the Tomar Trust, who provided essential sponsorship, presented the participants with certificates of achievement marking the occasion.…

We are very pleased to welcome Grace Furlong into the role of marketing and communications intern for the summer period.

Grace a University College Cork student was delighted to accept the role with us. Currently in her final year of her undergraduate degree she has many exciting and encouraging ideas to promote Crann and the range of services we offer.

Grace will be managing our social media and communications, promoting Crann and our services.

Grace an be contacted via the following email address – gfurlong@cranncentre.ie

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