Learning through play at Drumahoe

Now ‘resident’ in the Londonderry YMCA building at Drumahoe, the staff and pupils who use the facility are relishing their new facilities which includes access to a suite of two rooms specifically equipped for both children in the age group P1 to P4, and P5 to P7.

The facilities also include a ‘chillout room’ for Year 8 pupils, who can do homework, listen to music, watch TV or just chat with friends. The premises is shared with the Youth Programme at the YMCA and the Club uses the Easilift Community Bus service to provide a safe door-to-door collection service around the schools of the Waterside.

The Club’s ethos is to bring children together in a safe environment and members are reflective of both traditions and there is excellent provision for both able-bodied and those who are physically challenged. Members of ethnic communities are also very welcome to avail of the Club’s services. The Club was formed in 1998 to provide afterschool care for schoolchildren aged from four to 12 whose parents are working or in training and education, and currently there are 32 registered places, and the group has 48 registered families availing of the Club’s services.

The staff includes manager Caroline Kelly, a supervisor Diane Traynor, three play workers – Gemma Campbell, Stacey McGurk and Judith Keys – and a student worker, Nadine Gerrard, as well as the administrator, Linda McAnee. The Club is run by a fully constituted management committee, and is fully registered.

“The children do their own planning with the staff in terms of what activities they want to do. So there are different themes throughout the year with structured activities, art and craft, and games and we also have access to the sports hall so the children can have free play and can play games.

“We build a cross-community programme of activities around things like the Chinese New Year, Easter and Christmas, and typical activities would include making dragons or whatever animal it is in that year of the zodiac. Typically we would make the animals from papiermache and they make their own Christmas cards, do Easter egg hunts, glass painting. They are also encouraged to make big displays.

“The children are very entertained in a secure, controlled environment that still allows them to fully express themselves in a variety of settings and situations, they are encouraged to do write creatively, singing, a hip-hop show for parents in the summer.

Before the ‘big move’ to the Londonderry YMCA premises the Club had a temporary home at the same building, and before that was based at Lisneal College grounds, but administrator Linda McAnee said she is delighted that the Club finally has a place where it can down roots.

“The fact that we now have a permanent base provides the children and the staff with security and we know that we are going to be here for many years to come. In addition, we feel that we are now part of the YMCA ‘family’, whereas before the general secretary of the YMCA, Willie Lamrock offered us a place, we were very unsure of our future. Now we can plan ahead because we have a dedicated space in which to operate and the full support of the YMCA management and staff.

“The children absolutely love the place. They view it as their own and they love it. They feel really at home there. The dedication and loyalty of the staff and the care they show for the children is amazing. During the very poor weather they went out on foot to every school to collect the children and they also stayed on in the morning to ensure the facility was open for the children which allowed parents to continue on to their work. The Club also runs a full summer scheme in July and August from 8am to 6pm.

To register contact Caroline Kelly on 028 71 301537. To contact the team online email: [email protected]