Toddler group closes for lack of volunteers

The Kilcullen Carer and Toddler Group has been unable to resume its activities because it can't get enough volunteers, writes Brian Byrne.

Last Monday, organiser Laura Murphy announced that the group would not return on Wednesday as planned, 'or for the foreseeable future'.

Only three mothers answered an appeal made for volunteer helpers for the weekly meeting in Kilcullen Parish Centre.

"Unfortunately, two of those are pregnant and expecting babies soon," Laura told the Diary, adding that the third person could only stay until 11.30am, and wouldn't be able to attend every week. "I know from running it that a lot of commitment is needed. And we need people to take over the running of the group, not just offering to help when they're there."

Laura began going to the group nine years ago and says she would hate to see it come to an end. "I know how important it is to the community."

The group has been meeting from 10am to 12 noon on Wednesday of every week. If anyone wants to help revive it, contact Laura through the group's Facebook page.

In its original form it was established by Kilcullen's librarian, Julie O'Donoghue, and the prime mover behind it from 1995 until 2004 was Mary Berney.

In 2009, after a period of being based in the Community Centre, the group was restructured to a plan which included a number of development ideas. It also relocated to the Parish Centre.

The launch of 'It Takes a Village' in 2010.

In June 2010 the group published 'It Takes a Village', a 16-page guide with listings of places to go out and about with the family in the area, available leisure activities and services, articles on a number of parent-child matters and recipes. It also provided the results of a survey of parents, teenagers and primary school children in Kilcullen. In addition to Julie O'Donoghue's daughter Iseult, the compilers included Darina O'Brien, Jen Wilson, Siobhan Purves, Lynn Worrall, and Leonie McNabb.

Later that year, the group was presented with a Community Award by Kilcullen Community Action.

In the summer of 2012, the group combined with Drama Dynamics to take the older children for a period of acting, puppetry, poetry and more. Other activities through the years have included Teddy Bear Picnics, Halloween parties, and Santa visits.

Santa visits the Toddlers Group in 2013.

The Teddy Bear's Picnic in 2016.

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