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Welcome to Open Door’s 2016 Annual Report. Open Door provides activities for adults with physical and sensory disabilities as a result of Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Accidents and other causes. Therapeutic activities include Physiotherapy, Art, Ceramics, Woodwork, Crafts and Music. Open Door is part funded by the Health Service Executive and depends on support from the community in order to continue to provide activities for members while also offering a break to carers and families. I would like to thank our many friends who help Open Door.
2016 brings a transformation to the Centre, we will have increased capacity due to our new bigger Woodwork room, a dedicated Ceramics room and a bright new Art and Art & Crafts room. This project will greatly enhance the Centre. We look forward to welcoming many new members in 2017.
Patricia Wojnar
Chairperson
Click here to view a full list of Board Members
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JANUARY
Open Door is signed up to The Governance Code, is a member of Fundraising Ireland and of The Wheel and is registered with the Charity Regulatory Authority (Charity Registered Number: 20014124). Open Door is taking part in the Governance Code Bootcamp run by The Wheel.
New Year's Day saw the 1st fundraising event of the year. The Bray Lions Club New Year's Day Swim took place at Bray Seafront. Open Door Day Centre, Marino School, Lin Cara & the Carers were the chosen charities. Many thanks to all who took part in and sponsored this event.
Open Door has now installed a clothes recycling container on-site. This facility helps to raise much needed funds for the Centre.
Open Door supporters Rudy Montejo III, Eimhean Lawlor, Ben, Cox, Sam Cox and Nicky Cox were presented with Garda Youth Awards for their voluntary work at Open Door. This group has helped with fundraising events and they also worked with Open Door as part of their TY Work Experience programmes. Transition Year students from schools in South County Dublin and North Wicklow enjoy their work experience at the Centre.
The many activities including Art, Ceramics, Woodwork, Music, Computers and Physiotherapy are enjoyable, therapeutic and rewarding.
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February
In order to continue to provide activities including Physiotherapy, Art, Music, Woodwork and Ceramics, we are constantly reaching out for help with our fundraising events. The Sugarloaf Lions Club has supported Open Door for the past 9 years by running an annual Table Quiz. This year's quiz was held in Greystones Rugby Club and there was a great turnout. A total of €1,500 was donated to Open Door as a result of this fun event. Soroptimists Bray & District also held their annual table quiz in Bray Golf Club and raised funds for a number of charities including Open Door.
Virginia Ryan held her 3rd annual coffee morning in her home on March 2nd. Funds were raised through donations and a raffle. Perhaps you would consider hosting a coffee morning in aid of Open Door? We can supply t-shirts and literature to support your event. Contact 01 2867123 for further details.
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March
Sylvia Scanlon hosted a Family Fun Day in March in the Mill Room, Kilcoole. This event was in aid of Newcastle Hospital, Kilcoole Tidy Towns and Open Door. Sylvia presented Open Door with €418.86 towards activities for members.
St Crispins Bridge Club held a Charity night in aid of Open Door on 10th March and donated a total of €1,700 towards activities at the Centre.
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"Open Door has given me my life back. After three years in bed due to my illness, I found Open Door. I go five days a week. The staff and members threat me with the utmost respect, nothing is too much for them. I love the pottery and the art. Open Door has really given me something to get up for each morning. I love all the staff, they're so obliging and I really enjoy the banter with all the other members."
Sharon Grant
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April
Elva Murphy, Lady Captain at Woodbrook Golf Club hosted a Charity Golf Day in Woodbrook Golf Club and raised a total of €4,050 for Open Door.
Each year Transition Students from schools in the community spend time at Open Door as part of their work experience. This is always a positive experience for both the students and everyone at Open Door.
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May
Reggie Corrigan, Patron of Open Door and Radio presenter on Sunshine Radio presented Open Door with a cheque for €1,250 as a result of his charity bet on this year's Grand National. Reggie is also involved in the annual Open Door Golf Classic and his help and support is very much appreciated.
Not only do we need to raise funds for our programme of activities but we must also find money to replace equipment in the Centre. Thanks to a grant from MHF, we recently took delivery of a second MotoMed Viva 2 Physiotherapy bike to compliment our existing range of Physiotherapy equipment. Lukasz Oleksiewicz, Physiotherapist, sees the positive impact on each of our members.
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June
June is a busy month for fundraising events in Open Door.
The annual Mid-Summer Lunch is a very popular day with our friends and supporters. The 2016 event took place at Open Door on Saturday 11th June. The day was a success largely due to the work of Chef John Tutty and Christopher Daly who kindly donate their time and expertise each year to produce a fantastic meal for 115 people.
33 friends & supporters put their best foot forward in the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon on Monday 6th June in support of Open Door. Please consider joining us in to help adults with physical & sensory disabilities. Contact Suzanne on 01 286 7123 / 087 625 0823 or CLICK HERE to secure your sponsorship pack.
Minister Simon Harris visited the Centre to see how Open Door helps so many people in the community.
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"After having a stroke I lost my self-confidence but thanks to Open Door I now have something to look forward to. Three mornings a week, there is a knock on my door and one of the Open Door staff helps me to the bus, always with a smile. Once at the Centre, someone with a smile gives me a cup of tea and asks me how I am, isn't that lovely? I have a read of the paper and a gossip with my friends before heading off to one of the activities. On Wednesdays I take part in the Ceramics/Pottery class and thanks to the encouragement from Mark Meakin, Master Craftsman, I have made some really nice ceramic pieces. Brendan in Woodwork always goes that extra mile to help with our projects. Jenny is a dedicated Art tutor and also a talented crafter and she shows us how to make so many unique and beautiful things. The team at Open Door are committed to making our lives more pleasant which gives Open Door such a wonderful atmosphere. I feel very lucky to be part of this place."
Eleanor Kavanagh
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July
The annual Open Door Members Summer outings took place in July. Members visited Mount Usher Gardens followed by lunch in The Arklow Bay Hotel.
Open Door was presented with a Wicklow County Council Community Award of €1,500 towards Physiotherapy, one of the many activities available to our members on a daily basis.
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August
The Centre is closed for the first two weeks in August to allow for annual holidays.
Congratulations to Margaret Allen on completing the second leg of the Camino Walk. If you would like to support Open Door with your own event you can set up your own fundraising page with iDonate (don't forget to select Open Door as your charity )
100 Women North Wicklow South Dublin is a group of women who meet every quarter and pay between €25 to €100 per meeting. Three women are invited to pitch for a particular charity and the money goes to the charity with the most votes. Carolanne Forde successfully pitched for Open Door and we received a welcome donation of €1,350.00 to go towards Art & Crafts supplies and equipment.
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September
The 12th annual Reggie Corrigan Open Door Golf Classic took place on Friday 16th September. Many thank to the team players, sponsors and supporters of this major golfing event. We look forward to the next golf classic which is scheduled for to be played Bray Golf Club in September 2017. Details will be posted on our calendar on www.opendoor.ie
A bag pack took place in Tesco, Vevay Road, Bray, on Friday 9th September. Once again, we had help from the students of Loreto Secondary School, Bray.
We had a basic Fire Safety training with Cliff Evans of Vanguard Fire & Rescue Ltd. in the morning of Thursday 28, July 2016. This is in compliance with our Service Agreement with HSE.
We had a training on Basic Food Safety and Hygiene (HACCP) with Anne Flood, Trainor and Head Chef of Tara Care Centre on 29th July 2016.
We did our Annual Planning and Evaluation in the afternoons of 28th and 29th of July 2016, copy of which is available upon request. This is also in compliance with the Service Agreement with HSE.
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October
Open Door continues to develop it's on-line strategy with constant updates to our website, facebook and twitter accounts. Coughlan Web has been instrumental in increasing our on-line presence and making applications and enquiries easier for prospective members. Our website is now fully accessible across all devices. |
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November
The Open Door Craft Fair took place on Saturday 5th November with items from local crafters, artists and photographers on sale. This will become an annual event.
Congratulations and many thanks to Natasha Fortune on completing the Dublin Marathon and on raising funds for Open Door.
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December
A total of 92 people attended the Christmas Party for members which was held on Thursday the 22nd of December 2016.
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Open Door would find it very difficult to survive without the invaluable help and assistance of our wonderful volunteers, patrons, friends and Board of Trustees who are an integral part of the Open Door team. Thank you to each and every one of these fantastic people.
Wishing all our members, volunteers, staff and supporters a Very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.
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HOW CAN YOU HELP?
You can help through making a direct donation at www.opendoor.ie , providing raffle prizes for our fundraising events, donating supplies for Art, Woodwork and Craft, making Open Door your Charity of the Year, taking part in the Reggie Corrigan Golf Classic, the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon or any one of our events listed on the calendar or by offering to volunteer at the Centre on a regular basis.
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Open Door is a registered charity (Charity Reg. No. 20014124) ( CHY No. 6987) and is signed up to the Governance Code and is a member of The Wheel and Fundraising Ireland
Our accounts are available for inspection upon request
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