WCD  Are pleased to announce the 2014 Community Based Secondary After Schools Grant Scheme

Eligible activities

• Development of community based second level educational support programmes for young people at risk of early school leaving and educational disadvantage.
• Projects may include tutor costs, materials, equipment, travel costs for educational visits, provision of refreshments for young people

•  Projects should be focused on young people who are a risk of leaving school early
• Grants available  Minimum €1,500 - Maximum €3,000  per group
•  Project applications for less than €1,500 will not be considered.
• Closing Date for applications Wednesday 21st May 2014 @ 5pm
• Further development of new projects initiated in 2012/3 will also be considered.
• Please read explanatory information document before submitting an application.

For more details click here: Secondary.After.Schools.Grants-2014.explanatory.information.doc

To download an application from click on the link below:

LCDP.GRANT.APPLICATION.2014-Blank.doc

For further information contact: Linda-Jo Quinn/Arlene Kelly

On 090 64 94555 or email info@westcd.ie / ljquinn@westcd.ie 

WCD Childcare Services hosted midterm Halloween camps for children attending the After Schools in the Athlone and Mullingar area with over 50 children attending.

The camps activities provided plenty of entertainment in the form of fun and games and gave the children the opportunity to participate in Halloween themed activities which included pumpkin carving, mask making, trick or treat bags as well as baking which include spooky décor, other arts and crafts along with outdoor sports activities.

WCD is committed to providing a quality Childcare Services, and the After School services encourages the positive growth and development of children, by providing opportunities to explore and learn, in a safe and secure environment. We also operate pre-school services in Brawny and Lissywoollen in Athlone. The Pre-School service ensures that all children receive quality education that is appropriate to their age, under the Early Childhood Curriculum framework, ‘Aistear & Siolta’, while also promoting parental partnership to encourage children to reach their full potential.

Our Childcare Services are funded through Department of Children and Youth Affairs, under the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme (ECCE), better known as the free preschool year, and the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS), along with funding from the Department of Social Protection and the Local and Community Development Programme and supported through Westmeath County Childcare Committee.

For further information of these services go to www.westcd.ie or contact Sinead Casey, Childcare Services Manager on 090 6494555 or email scasey@westcd.ie 

Westmeath Community Development has hours available for a qualified primary school teacher in our After School project, based in Mullingar Educate Together National School.

The position is on Mondays and Tuesday from 4pm to 5.30 pm, and will run parallel will the school calendar. The rate of pay for the post is €23 gross per hour.

Our After-schools projects are funded through the National Childcare Investment Programme, under the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS), via POBAL and the Dept of Children and Youth Affairs. The projects are also funded and supported by the Dept. of Social Protection, and by Westmeath County Childcare Committee.

Our After-School services run from the start of the school year until July, and includes camps at Halloween, Easter and in July, when the schools are closed. Services are available 4 hours a day, Monday-Friday during the school year, and includes a hot snack, homework supports, art and cultural activities, sports, fun and games.

The role of the teacher will be to provide homework support to the children attending the service. There are 30 children registered with the After School in Mullingar.

If you are interested in being considered for this position please submit a CV and letter to Frank Murtagh, Deputy CEO, Westmeath Community Development, Mullingar Enterprise and Technology Park, Clonmore Industrial Estate, Mullingar by Monday, October 7^th. For further information contact us on 044 9348571 or email fmurtagh@westcd.ie.

Westmeath Community Development Afterschool Services, ended our year with lots of fun, with 72 children from our After School Services in Athlone and Mullingar participated in this 2 week camp.

 During the first week of the Summer Camp, children and staff went to Galway Aquatic Centre andLough Key Forest Park where they had a guided tour of The Experience and hours of fun in the park. In the second week, children and staff went to Dublin Zoo and The Kingfisher Club in Ballinasloe.

 Other activities during the camp included a sports day, Arts and Crafts, Nature Walks, and lots more.

 The WCD Afterschool Services are now closed for the summer.

 We have some places available for September in both our Pre-school and After School Services. If you would like avail of any of our service please contact Sinead Casey, Childcare Services Manager on Ph: 090 64 16121/ 0877729172 or email scasey@westcd.ie.

 The WCD childcare services are funded under the ECCE and CCSS schemes, through Pobal and the Dept of Children and Youth Affairs.