Mayor Emma Murphy launches new C&F Strategy
On the 2nd of December in the Balgaddy Child & Family Centre, Mayor Emma Murphy officially launched SDCP’s Children & Families Strategy 2023-2025. 30 students from 3 schools from Clondalkin and Tallaght took part in a full day Hackathon to solve a social problem. Teams of 4 worked together to hack an issue and pitched to a panel of judges at the end of the day. The standard was extremely high and the judges were so impressed by the level of innovation shown on the day.
The event involved elements of 4 different projects that are included in the Children & Families work of the Partnership:
- The Inspiring the Future, Ireland programme connects students with the world of work by inviting professionals to come and speak with students from Tallaght and Clondalkin in order to inspire their future and give them ideas for their potential career choices. In 2022, Inspiring the Future has worked with over 2000 students and has no signs of slowing down, with each year getting bigger and better. Thanks to Lauren and Triona for their support and using their connections and inviting the students and their teachers here today.
- The new Let’s Get Digital programme aims to improve learner’s digital health and encourages learners to consider careers in tech by participating in Microsoft’s StepIn2Tech online programme. Since Let’s Get Digital started last year, they have worked with over 100 learners through innovative and engaging ways like their series of Tech Taster workshops, where you can learn how to build an app, a website and even a circuit! Thanks to Julie Power who has hosted today’s event and has brought all these wonderful, inspiring young people and their amazing ideas together. Also, a special thanks to John, a participant of the Let’s Get Digital project who has given up his time to come and act as a mentor for our students earlier today.
- The Partnership’s family learning Coding programmes bring together parents and their children to learn how to code here in the Balgaddy centre and also the team’s newest addition, We CAN Code coding group for children with additional needs. Angelika and Amy who runs these activities kept the students busy during the important deliberation with unplugged activities in the next room, which is not an easy task!
- Finally we are delighted to host today’s event in the Balgaddy Child & Family Centre, which is managed by the Partnership since 2012. The centre is a hive of high quality activities for children and families from the area and in 2022, we worked with over 500 individuals, including our new homework club, extensive family support programme and counselling services to name but a few. Thanks to Trish and the team from the centre for all of their hard work.
This is only a tiny snapshot of the work that is being done by a small but mighty team of staff under the Children & Families thematic. They are very proud of their new Strategy which covers their commitment to continue with their innovative work for the period 2023-2025.
