Galway Rural Development has announced that it is expanding the ParentChild+ Programme from the Ballinasloe region into Tuam town from next month.
The home-based literacy and parenting programme strengthens families and prepares children to succeed academically by allowing them to enter school with the skills they need.
GRD’s ParentChild+ team will now be compiling a list of families to take part in the programme which is intended to be a fun learning opportunity for all participants.Â
Galway Rural Development CEO Steve Dolan said that thanks to the hard work of Michelle Moore at the National College of Ireland, recruitment for new positions in Tuam town will begin immediately.
“Currently more than two dozen families in Ballinasloe rely on ParentChild+, and the team in the National College of Ireland deserve huge credit for establishing the programme there.
“The programme in Tuam will be delivered on exactly the same lines, and to the same standard, and we’re delighted that Shauna Sommers is transferring to assume management in Tuam.”
Deputy Sean Canney welcomed the announcement, saying that he is delighted that GRD have chosen Tuam to be their first expansion area.
“I know from Steve that they are committed to growing the programme. All ParentChild+ Home Visitors are from the local communities, and many were originally parents of children on the programme,” he said.
“This has brought real value to the delivery of home visiting and to creating transformational change. The difference in Ballinasloe has been praised by community groups and professionals alike, and I know Tuam will be equally successful.”
Galway Rural Development is now recruiting for four part-time Home Visitors, two each for Ballinasloe and Tuam, and they are running an information session for potential applicants.
To book a place for the information session and receive the Zoom link, e-mail debra.grennan@grd.ie for Ballinasloe or shauna.sommers@grd.ie for Tuam.
