4 December 1997 Edition

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Creche heralds new era

WHEN THE WHITEROCK Creche Association launched its development plan on 13 November 1997 it marked five years of hard work and bore witness to a unique partnership with the GAA.

The Creche Association and St John's GAC on the Whiterock Road had linked up in 1992 to create a new purpose built youth and children's centre which opened in 1997.

The Whiterock Creche provided a very successful childcare facility within the Belfast Institute of Higher and Further Education (BIHFE), but was limited by its lack of space and access to long term funding.

St John's on the other hand which provided sporting facilities for up to 300 young people between the ages of six to 18 wished to develop a greater capacity for young people and benefit the wider community. It had land available, but no funding. Out of this came the partnership between the creche and St John's and with European money, Making Belfast Work (MBW) and Belfast City Council the project now has funding for three years. The creation of the centre provides an integrated approach that has developed a facility that will incorporate care, education, training and enterprise development for the community.

An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland