This year has been one of transition and expansion for Safe Start with the acquisition of our new Community Centre in Wembley and the opening of our Irish Elders Social Club.

We received a grant of £85,500 as part of this years DION funding from the Irish Government to support both the centre and the Irish Elders Club.

The Club was launched on 11th September this year and already more than 30 people, aged between 50 and 80 years old have attended, and are returning each week.

The club brings together older Irish people and offers them a place to go for few hours a week to meet and make new friends over afternoon tea and offers a range of activities from Bingo to Dancing.

One of our members Michael is coming in a few mornings a week to do our garden, which he asked us if he could do! The club is a great opportunity for our members to volunteer their time not only to help us as an organisation but to help each other.

As well as offering the Irish Elders Club our Centre will embrace the Irish Community and address local issues and national concerns by:

• Offering front-line advice, counselling and support services, through outreach, community development and support work.
• Offering access to training, employment and housing, through housing officers, recruitment and training advisors and agencies and work with them to ensure they find long term employment and or education.
• Offering accommodation to homeless Irish people, and work with them to find suitable long term accommodation.
• Offering services to elderly and disabled Irish people, through social clubs and functions, classes and volunteering services.
• Offering cultural and educational projects that promote Ireland’s identity.
• Working with other agencies to combat the issues which affect the Irish Community living in London

If you would like more information about the services we are offering at our Wembley Centre or would like to come and have a look then please don’t hesitate to contact me.