IRD DUHALLOW | PROGRESS REPORT
2020 - 2021
Equality For Women & Childcare designed on the principle that simple and healthy homemade food for a child are also sufficient for a baby’s needs. It is hoped that the outcomes from this project will be of support to parents going forward by saving them time in the kitchen and enabling them to serve healthy homemade food every day. Online Baby Reflexology and Massage Classes Baby reflexology is a simple and effective way to aid sleep and digestion, it is naturally calming and it improves babies and parents overall wellbeing. There are many benefits for both babies and parents; interaction and bonding, relaxation, relief from certain pains and ailments and it is stimulating. IRD Duhallow organised a 6-week online Baby Reflexology and Massage classes with Blarney Wellness Centre. Parents learned the techniques of reflexology, massage and acupressure which promotes the natural bond between parent and child.
Through its SICAP programme IRD Duhallow was delighted to welcome Ms. Siobhán Berry of Mummy Cooks to give an informative presentation on childhood nutrition.
The Women’s Forum promotes female entrepreneurship. IRD Duhallow is proud to support women in business. Pictured here is Janet Burke of Valley View Equestrian Centre signing a contract for LEADER funding with LAG Chairman Cllr Bernard Moynihan and Louise Bourke and Maura Walsh of IRD Duhallow.
North Cork Childcare Managers Network Our network for managers of community childcare facilities across North Cork and East Kerry has in the last 6 years facilitated the sharing of information, expertise and networking amongst its members. Through the Network, managers have been able to avail of training opportunities, workshops and a wealth of expertise and knowledge sharing which has helped to position them much better in running their services. 2020 has without doubt been a very difficult year for the childcare sector. Overnight services were forced to close down over COVID 19 restrictions in February 2020 and started to reopen in August 2020 to provide childcare to essential workers in newly designated ‘play pods’. These new restrictions in childcare settings were undoubtedly challenging and
difficult to put in place but the years of experience by both management and staff made it achievable in a practical and safe way. The sector was undoubtedly fortunate that the DCYA financially supported them with the Temporary Wage Subsidy scheme which helped to ensure that staff were retained in the sector. Facilities are now back up and running fully and are experts in running pods safely and recording movements in the service for future contract tracing. The downside since Covid has meant that staffing is even a bigger issue as the introduction of pods means more staff are required. Staffing has always been an issue for this sector and managers are reporting it is even more difficult now to obtain suitable staff with a severe lack of choice out there in who they can recruit.
Joanne O’Connor delighted to be participating in the recent SICAP funded Confident Online Communications workshop. This one-hour Masterclass was delivered by the National Academy of Dramatic Art at Trinity College and focussed on what can be done to increase the impact made when communicating online via video conferencing platformsapplying both Verbal & Non-Verbal communication techniques to help to become better online communicators.
Members of the North Cork Childcare Network. This network was established by IRD Duhallow and has continued to meet online to discuss how best to mitigate the impact of COVID in childcare settings.
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This constant worry in the sector is evident nationally and needs to be addressed quickly. Since last year our network has continued to meet virtually. The managers have appreciated the opportunity to catch up with their counterparts to bounce ideas off them and learn from each other.
