Welcome to Dublin South Arch Club
Welcome to our website. We hope this will be a useful site for those of you interested in the activities of the Dublin South Arch Club.
Arch Clubs provide a secure social environment for people with special needs, their siblings and friends to learn, form friendships and above all, have fun.
Arch Clubs aim to:
- Provide a social outlet for people with special needs.
- Develop the members social skills, self-esteem and quality of life through a dynamic range of activities.
- Provide support and information for parents and families.
A short history of the Dublin South Arch Club
Dublin South Arch Club was founded in 2003. It began with a small group of parents who needed a social outlet for their young children with special needs. The Arch Club has developed into a friendship club catering for 160 adults and children with special needs. As our members have grown older and in number, the Arch Club has grown and adapted to meet the changing needs of the members.
What has not changed is that the Arch Club is run completely on a voluntary basis by the parents of club members. The Arch Club is divided into six age groups from 7 years of age right up to adults. Each section is co-ordinated by 2 or 3 parents. Each section is represented on the main committee which co-ordinates the running and financing of the Arch Club.
Stakeholders
The families of the members are the stakeholders. Every donation and contribution that we have ever been given has been given directly from the parents or from a contact of the parents. We apply and receive small grants from time to time. Dún Laoghaire / Rathdown County Council have supported us in the past by grant aiding the purchase of equipment or supporting a summer project. Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB support us each year with a Youth Club grant. Donations in the past have come from Merrion Capital, Portmarnock Golf Club, St Benildus College and others. All of these came from parent contacts.
The operation of the Arch Club
Apart from the adult section, the Arch Club conducts its activities from Foxrock Parish Pastoral Centre. The Adult Group use Rockford Manor on Stradbrook Road. We hire rooms in these facilities and have been doing so for many years. Trips and activities in the community also take place. All groups are run on a completely voluntary basis by parents and volunteers.
National Federation of Arch Clubs
The Dublin South Arch Club is affiliated with the National Federation Of Arch Clubs Ireland.