Bonnybrook:

Bonnybrook ran a Halloween Disco in St Josephs to kick start their mid term. Young people dressed up for the occasion while we played games like bobbing the apple, musical statues and telling ghost stories! Check out some photos in the photo gallery!

We also had a visit to our Older Drop In from a Dental Hygienist. She spoke about dental care, the impact of smoking on your teeth and also did plaque testing! Check out some pics in the gallery!

Last but not least, Bonnybrook are soon leaving our current centre on the Glin Road and moving to our new facility "Bonnybrook Youth Centre" on Adare Road. The Bonnybrook Team are very excited about this as is our young people. We will keep you posted on the move!!

Darndale:

So Darndales Halloween Week of Ghoulish Activities kicked off on Tuesday the 26th October. Throughout the week we had an arey of all things Halloweenie......there was Spooky Window Painting, Pumpkin Carving, Fancy Dress Fun Runs, Scary Films and we packed a coach full of witches and ghouls to the Roller Disco in Blanchardstown on Thursday Night.

All the Darndale team would also like to say a huge CONGRATUALTIONS to the "Belcamp Babes" who ran a highly successful Cake Sale on the Friday Morning and raised €120 towards their residential ! ! Go Girls!

Farewell George!

We are saying farewell on Friday October 15th to our Chairperson George Ryan who has been with the organisation in that role since our inception over five years ago.

During this time George has played a key role in overseeing the tremendous progress of Sphere 17 in delivering youth service activity for the region. He brought his considerable knowledge and skills from both the corporate and community sectors to the development of the organisation in our start up phase but it is his generosity of spirit and support that I am most grateful to him for.

From the earliest days, George recognised and emphasised the important of facilitating a culture of learning and support within the organisation and this view positively informed the ethos and direction of the organisation. He regularly reminded me about how to bring the best out in people and was highly supportive of staff oriented policies and procedures as brought forward from the Staffing Sub Committee.

George leads by example in acknowledging the efforts of others at ever opportunity and is a strong advocate for the organisation engaging in audits and assessment processes which evidence our progress, provide direction and focus on areas for development, and ultimately acknowledge and underpin our professional approach.

George had both a vision for the organisation and an awareness of the type of approach required to get there. He offered invaluable support to navigate key challenges along our journey and has facilitated an understanding and acceptance of the value of broad team consultation and participation in organisational decision making. Indeed it may be this above all else that will prove critical in difficult economic times ahead. As such, it is a testimony to him that despite unprecedented funding cuts, salary cuts and financial uncertainties, employees of this organisation have never regarded their organisation as highly in the areas of communication, planning, review, training and support.

We have thrived under his stewardship and I believe as a direct result of it. However the baton has been passed onto another very capable and generous man in Nessan Vaughan so despite the loss of a great supporter, the future remains bright for the Sphere 17 RYS.

Mick Ferron, Sphere 17 RYS Manager