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Video: Clann Resource Centre
Find out about the Galway based Family Resource Centre.
My name is Kerry E’lyn Larkin – I’m the development worker in Clann Resource Centre. Clann is a Family Resource Centre in Oughterard in County Galway. We’ve been around since 2002 and we work with people in the local community to identify social problems in the area and to provide solutions.
We always work with people, not for them – we don’t do charity; local people are always actively involved in whatever we do. Issues such as poverty, racism, mental health, disability, and social exclusion are really central to our work. We work in areas such as youth development, support for the elderly, community arts, adult and community education, support for lone parents. We also provide affordable counselling, drop-in support, Citizens’ Information Centre outreach, MABS outreach, and we co-ordinate a rural transport initiative, personal development courses, and outreach to outlying areas.
My job is to work with youth and adults to develop facilities and activities for young people. So for example, we’ve set up a youth arts festival, lots of different types of youth clubs, a youth café, a youth democracy project and so on. Supporting LGBT young people is part of this work as well.
I got involved with Clann because I love this kind of work, I’m really dedicated to the principles of community development – that is, people working together to empower themselves and have control over things that affect their lives. I love working towards equality and social justice and working with ideas and people. Youth are great to work with, they’re great craic and it’s really important to me to help young people gain more control over their lives and learn to live healthy and happy lives.
We’re trying to help young people have more of a role and a voice in their local community here, to have safe places where they can go to develop themselves as people in healthy and positive activities, to become active citizens and active members of the community and grow up to be happy, healthy adults.
This goes for straight and LGBT youth. We’re hoping to provide the support that LGBT youth need because of homophobia and intolerance in society – we can provide referrals, information or just a listening ear and a cuppa tea, if that’s what people want. Or we can work with people to set up a social club, a film night on LGBT issues, a support group, an educational course or seminar, or whatever else might meet LGBT people’s needs.
Clann’s door is open and the kettle is on – drop in whenever you want, we’re here for you.
Contact information:
Kerry E'lyn Larkin, Development Worker
Clann Resource Centre
Main Street, Oughterard, Co. Galway
Telephone: (091) 557633
Mobile: 087 684 2865
Email: kerryclann@eircom.net
Family Resourse Centres can be found all over Ireland. See
www.familyresource.ie for more information.
