2016 saw Remember Us celebrating its 18th anniversary. We have come a long way over those years and we have been mindful for some time that we really need ‘A Home’ for our organisation. Currently we rent a small office in Balbriggan and we hire out various rooms and halls to cater for our activities. This fact has meant that we are restricted in the scope and range of activities we can offer our members. This is also an extra cost to our organisation and means we have to transport our equipment required each time for our various activities.
Over the years, through active fundraising and prudent housekeeping, we had managed to save €150K towards the cost of purchasing a home of our own. In March 2014 we dediced that the time was right to actively pursue our goal of acquiring our own Base and we engaged in a “second prong” fundraising drive to raise the remaining funds needed to accomplish this.
***On 23rd February 2016 we had raised enough to purchase Unit 5 Balbriggan Retail Park***
The property is 7,400sq. ft. with a mezzanine. It is ideally situated with plenty of parking and it is also on a bus route for ease of access for those travelling by public dtransport. The property is a shell and core which will allow us to fit it out and tailor it to our needs. As a shell and core property it has no utilities.
Having a permanent location and presence in the community would further help our members to be accepted and participate in the community. It would allow us to further develop our range of programmes and increase our membership.
We have appointed a steering committee to manage the fit out project. A design team consisting of a Project Manager, an Architect, a Quantity Surveyor and a Mechanical and Electrical Engineer has been appointed.
Plans were drawn up and submitted for planning permission which was granted on 20th June 2016. A pretender cost plan was drawn up by our Q.S. and the team are currently preparing to go to tender.
Included in our plans we intend to extend the existing mezzanine which will see the building extended from it’s current 7,400sq. ft. to 10,000sq ft
Our Plans Include:-
1. AN OFFICE – to accommodate 2-3 people.
2. A SPORTS HALL -which would be used for our club sports activities.
3. A KITCHEN – Our kitchen be used by our members as a place to meet and
interact with each other in a safe secure environment. It will also be used by the
parents as well as for educational purposes. Our kitchen will provide our
members a safe, secure, supported environment where they can learn vital
independent-living and self-help skills.
4. A RECREATION/GAMES ROOM– this would be a permanent fixture with pool
table/air hockey/darts etc. to be used by our members as a ‘chill room’ and when
they drop in.
5. 2 ACTIVITY ROOMS. -Both need to be wheelchair accessible/adapted and they
need to be big enough to hold at least 25/30 adults.
6. A SENSORY ROOM – this would be a quiet space fitted with soft furnishings
and special sensory equipment.
7. A MEETING ROOM
8. A FAMILY ROOM– where our parents can relax while and their child is
participating in their club.
9. STORAGE SPACE.
10. TOILETS
While we will always need to fundraise for the running costs of the group we, through our ‘second prong’ fundraising drive, aim to raise the funds needed for the ‘fit out’ of the property by encouraging more Patrons and Sponsors to come on board. We will continue to run a variety of fundraising events in partnership with our very supportive fundraising partners.
We will also be looking to businesses in the community to sponsor rooms, equipment, etc.
We have now embarked on Phase 2 of our fundraising campaign to raise the funds needed to MAKE THIS SPACE OUR HOME. Remember Us is a vital, vibrant group and has become a ‘LIFELINE’ for our members and their families. We now realise that the key to our future is in owning our own home where our ‘family’ can grow.
We, at Remember Us, are committed and driven to provide the best possible service to our members, as after all THEY ARE WORTH IT!
We now need YOUR HELP to turn THIS SPACE into OUR NEW BASE!
