Anam Croi Charity Shop Claregalway: On Friday 21st June Ronan Lardner broadcasts his show The Live Wire from Claregalway. Join Ronan live at Anam Croi Charity Shop from 12 to 3pm as we proudly support this wonderful community group.
The Claregalway & District Day Care Centre, now rebranded to Anam Croí, began operating in October 2012 after a group of people from the community held a public meeting (May 2011) and identified a need to provide a service to the elderly, isolated community members and those with early dementia or other ailments that limited their social interaction. The Centre opened for clients on 8th October 2012, on a three days per week basis but within 6 months opening extended to five days per week due to demand for the service.
The Day Centre employs an Operations Manager, a Nurse Manager, qualified care assistants, administrators and one part time nurse. Dedicated volunteers came in to do various arts and crafts with the service users. Local national schools are regularly welcomed in and have entertained with music, song and dance and Anam Croi also facilitate as many transition year and work experience students who are studying for a relevant qualification in care of the older person.
In April 2013 Anam Croi acquired a wheelchair accessible minibus thanks to funding from the National Lottery and Galway County Council. The bus collects service users from their homes and returns them at the end of each day. Various day trips have also been organised for service users. Anam Croi has welcomed service users from across Galway, Two days each week we cater to people living on the east side of Galway City, such is the demand for services in this area.
In 2018 work began on the construction of a new, purpose-built day care centre and housing for older people. The new centre opened in 2019 but unfortunately had to close in March 2020 due to Covid-19 and reopened again in September 2021. Upon arrival at the centre each service user is served tea or coffee and freshly baked scones. After this, activities take place which includes mental aerobics, cards, seated exercises, arts and crafts etc. A hot lunch and dessert is provided.
The houses for older people were completed in March 2020 and are now at full occupancy. Anam Croí worked with Galway County Council and the Department of Housing on the provision of these independent living houses through CAS funding.
Anam Croi currently receive a grant of €75,000 per annum from the HSE under the Section 39 scheme and the daily subscription from service users is what tops off the funding, the Anam Croí charity shop is, therefore, the primary source of funding for the day centre. Other occasional funding is by way of events and donations. In terms of historic grants we have received support from the St. Vincent de Paul, Galway County Council, Galway County VEC, Galway Rural Development, The National Lottery and the local HSE lottery fund.
Anam Croí Charity Shop
Primary funding for the day centre is through the Anam Croí Charity Shop now based in The Courtyard, Claregalway behind Hughes’ SuperValu. The shop, previously known as “Never Too Old” Charity shop, is managed by Susan Kirrane and Cassie Murphy-Furey who are supported by a great team of volunteers.
Thanks to funding from the Immigrant Investment Programme administered through the Department of Justice, Anam Croi purchased three units in the Courtyard, Claregalway, which after complete renovation was opened in November 2023.
The shops accepts good quality clothing, bric a brac, books and toys (except soft toys) and furniture. A van was purchased which now allows for collection and delivery of furniture for re-sale.
The Future
Plans for the future include an extension of the service to meet the needs of the increasing ageing population of the area. The day centre has begun opening in the evenings to other groups wishing to provide activities for older people, for example the local senior citizens group organise cards and bingo one night each week and the Claregalway Active Requirement group will be using the centre one night a week later in the year.
Anam Croí is thankful to the Claregalway and surrounding community for all the support received over the years.
If further information is required, please contact Geraldine on 091 739385 or 086 4458989. Alternatively email on [email protected].
