New Arch Club for Dunboyne

Group set up for children aged between four to 10 with a diagnosis of autism and parents hope that it will eventually be extended to older children

A GROUP of Dunboyne parents whose autistic children have no social outlet, have got together to set up a new Arch Club in the village.

The Dunboyne A-Team Arch Team will initially be set up for children between four to 10 with a diagnosis of autism and the parents hope that it will eventually be extended to older children and others with an intellectual disability.

Síle White, whose four year old son, Senan has autism explains that there was a huge need for this type of club.

"There are no clubs for children with autism in Dunboyne. There are so many places, activities and clubs that I can bring my six-year-old daughter Sadie to, but there is nothing for Senan."

"Claire Mulvey and I got together with a group of parents to set up an Arch Club to provide an outlet for our children."

The new club will have a test run on 14th September and will be officially launched by Sean Boylan on 21st September.

The A-team Arch Club will meet every Thursday night in St Peter’s GAA club.

It will be a social club and a safe space for the children to develop their social and interpersonal skills, learn real world skills, make friends and just have fun.

"Volunteers are being trained at the moment and Garda vetting is taking place,

"We are having training in health and safety, first aid and a course for dealing with epilepsy.

"The plan is to have the club up and running for the first six months and then we will look at extending it further.

"We are up to speed on our children's needs. Our coordinator, Grace Sheerin, has been drawing up a plan for activities for each meeting.

"Every parent was asked to write down what their child enjoys and Claire has organised games and activities around those interests.

"This is not a speech and language or occupational therapy club, it’s a fun club," she stresses.

"We already have ten children signed up. We haven't done any advertising because it is all new, but since people heard about it, we have had to open a waiting list. We will get it up and running, before we take on more children."

Because children with autism can find it extremely difficult to go somewhere new, siblings will be going along to the club initially.

"There are some children with autism that will not get out of the car, so their siblings will be there to encourage them."

All the parents involved are very excited at the prospect of providing this outlet for the children.

"I think the parents are more excited than the kids," says Sile. "It is a great credit to all the families involved to have got together and got it up and running."

Arch Club was founded in 1976 by a small group of parents in Dublin, looking for a social outlet for their children. Since then the organisation has grown in numbers and currently has over 50 clubs in 15 different counties. There are already very successful Arch Clubs in Navan and Trim.