1. Bridgeways Family Resource Centre

2. Our Vision
The vision of Bridgeways Family Resource Centre is to create a safe, welcoming environment where members of the community can avail of support around issues that affect them, we work to create a sense of community where people feel secure in their everyday lives and can receive help allowing them to reach their full potential.

3. Our Mission
The mission of Bridgeways is to provide educational, developmental and social supports to all members of the community regardless of age or background. We will provide a full timetable of activities that engender social cohesion and develop community spirit where people are empowered and secure, supported in addressing life’s challenges.

4. STATEMENT OF VALUES:
The work of Bridgeways FRC is informed by equality and empowerment, driven by the idea that people are capable of improvement and are best suited to identify their own needs. We are a fully inclusive organisation and work to address social needs through collective action.

5. Project Outcomes Bridgeways FRC have adopted Tusla’s National Outcomes
1. Healthy physically, mentally and emotionally 
2. Supported in active learning 
3. Safe from accidental and intentional harm; Secure in the immediate and wider physical environment
4. Economically Secure 
5. Part of positive networks of family, friends, neighbours and the community; Included and participating in society

6. Project Activities Homework club/ youth groups/ camps Women’s group
Parent & Toddler group
Parental support groups/ programmes
Unemployment support/ programmes
Family support
Recreational activities
Rental Space

7. Opening Hours Monday 9-5pm Tuesday 9-5pm Wednesday 9-5pm
Thursday 9-5pm
Friday 9-3pm
Summer camp (First 3 weeks of July, 10am-1.30pm)
Sizzle dance 11am, Karate 5pm Monday’s
Parent and Toddler 10.30am Tuesday
Women’s Group 10.30am, Rehab Care Men’s group 11.45pm, Club 91 8pm Wednesdays

8. Staff Members Co-ordinator- Grace Kearney
Family support/ Development worker- Currently Vacant
Administrator- Elaine Mulvany
2 Tús workers Noel Egan, Stephen Douglas
Volunteers (always looking for extra volunteers).

9. Plan of work for 2017 Re-establish a Counselling Service
Begin pre-development work to establish a GROW group
Deliver a Healthy Food Made Easy Course
Increase number of fitness groups using the space
Focus on programmes for the year unemployed cohort
Re-establish/ maintain youth supports
Provide issue based/ programmed interventions to youth groups eg/ drugs & alcohol awareness
Provide a range of seasonal camps for young people

10. Deliver Parenting Programmes
Provide a space for parental support groups
Continue to provide family support when necessary
Continue to support & empower the Women’s/Men’s and Parent & Toddler group, provide relevant programmes that meet their needs
Continue to provide a social space for Club 91
Maintain existing links that enhance the work of the project eg/ Convent House, Foroige, Longford Youth Service, LCRL, EDI, LWETB, EWO, Tusla, Gardaí, Schools, CAMHS, Longford CoCo, Youth Reach, Other FRC’s, Library, PPN etc.
Create new links that will enhance the centres work

11. Keep the community informed about the work of the centre through Facebook, Longford Leader, Parish Newsletter etc.
Increase number of volunteers
Improve the centres structure
Develop/ update internal policies
Support the VBOM and subgroups
Evaluate all of the centres work for 2017, make a work plan for 2018.

12. Premise Renovations Since March27th

14. Computer Room, waiting on 6 computers from AIT

18. Group Work Room

20. Counselling Space

21. Women’s Group Art Work

23. LEADER Funding EOI Submitted for the improvement of Youth Facilities
€17,500 being sought to develop a modern youth space to fulfil the needs of the youth in Ballymahon
The lack of a youth space is a very evident in the community, this space is paramount in order to provide recreational, developmental and educational supports for young people

25. 2017 Grant Applications HSE Lotto (9k), Tusla Counselling (5k), Community and Facility Grant (1k)

27. Contact Details
Bridgeways Family Resource Centre, Dean Egan Library, Ballymahon.
Tel: / -
Facebook- Bridgeways FRC Ballymahon