Gort Kids Afterschool's Club

Public benefits

Gort Kids is a cross community afterschool club providing high quality affordable childcare for 4-12 year olds and children with a range of disabilities. Gort Kids opens 12pm to 6pm term time and 8.30am to 6pm during school closures. Gort Kids meets the criteria under: • the advancement of education • the relief of those in need. 1. To

provide the necessary facilities for the daily care, recreation and education of children during out of school hours and school holidays without distinction of sex, race, religion, ability. Provide a service to all children and their children on our register, thus allowing children a variety of stimulating play activities whilst facilitating their parents in the obtainable or continuation of employment and of further education. Gort Kids deem our services to be part of life-long learning by developing each individual child’s capacity. • The main beneficiaries are Gort Kids members and their parents. Parents speak with confidence of their ability to remain in work ensuring that their chid is well looked after, it gives parents peace of mind. • The children enjoy the range of activities provided ensuring that play is the preferred method of learning. • About a quarter of our current members have some level of disability, learning difficulties, A.D.H.D, Autism or Developmental Delay. This allows all the children to develop a greater level of understanding and tolerance, whilst those with difficulties can enhance their learning from others who are in main stream education. We assist parents in developing management strategies alongside those used in school and in GK. • Gort Kids provide specialist advice to children and their parents on some behaviour strategies books and equipment for use both within the club and for our parents to use at home. • Gort Kids take in some referrals from social services to children who need additional help or may be in care or on the Child Protection Register. Gort Kids feels that the club benefits these children by raising their self- awareness and self esteem. 2. To advance the education and training of the persons in the provision of such care, education and recreational facilities ? Gort Kids provide a range of play and educational activities which promotes the child’s interest and learning and encourages them to pursue their capacities and development competence, skills and understanding. ? Gort Kids employ 4 permanent part time staff and 2 casual staff, who are vetted and references taken up. The club is registered with Social Services through the Northern Health and Social Care Trust since the start of the project since 1998. ? Gort Kids facilitate staff with on-going training - N.V.Q, Child Protection, First Aid, Food Hygiene, Health and Safety and working with disabilities. Staff benefit from training and bring new ideas for play into the club which benefits the children. Gort Kids Have a voluntary Management Committee, three quarters of which are current parents. The main beneficiaries are: The children Their parents and wider family Most of whom live in the Cookstown District Council area. We work on a not-for-profit basis and put any surplus into play equipment, trips, and repairs. The benefit is demonstrated by the children’s behaviour and through children’s meetings, by reports from parents and social services. Gort Kids do not forsee any harm flowing from our purposes, there is always a risk of accident within the premises, but all our Health and Safety regulations are up to date and the staff are qualified not only in Childcare but in First Aid and Fire Awareness and other topics. Private Benefit The only private benefit is that the staff and volunteers can enhance their employment opportunities through their experiences in Gort Kids but this is incidental and necessary. Gort Kids do not forsee any harm flowing from our purposes.

What your organisation does

Gort Kids provides daily care, recreation and education of children during out of school hours and school holidays without distinction of sex, race, religion, ability. Gort Kids have special projects for children with disabilities alongside those in main stream education.