All’s going Well in Kinsale town
A new community hub has been opened in Kinsale which will provide accommodation for 3 groups which are involved in promoting mental health and wellbeing.
Called The Well, it is the first project of its kind in Ireland. The name The Well was chosen as traditionally, a well was a community resource where people gathered and was the provider of a life-giving force.
The Well is also an acronym for Wellness, Education, Life-giving and Life-skills. It’s hoped the centre will foster inclusive community participation by providing an environmentally friendly facility where health and wellbeing, education, recreation, celebration and arts are all enjoyed.
Cork Kerry Community Healthcare welcomed Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler to Kinsale on Tuesday to officially open the Kinsale Community Health and Wellbeing Resource Centre, The Well.
Cork Kerry Community Healthcare provided the location which was the former health centre on Market Lane, and The Well volunteers secured funding for work on the building.
Cork Kerry Community Healthcare said it has also provided some funding to complete the works needed to transform the centre into a community resource. The 3 groups now located at the centre are:
• KYSS - Kinsale Youth Support Services • The Kinsale Youth Centre/Café • The Kinsale Men’s Shed
The Well volunteers have worked over the past 4 years to renovate the building.
Minister Butler said: “It gives me great pleasure to see this collaborative, multi-agency project which will benefit the health and wellbeing of people of all ages in Kinsale and the wider community.
“It is wonderful to see so many people and groups come together with a shared vision to improve health and wellbeing facilities for the community.”
She added: “This vision has been turned into a reality here thanks to the hard work and commitment of all involved.” Interim Chief Officer of Cork Kerry Community Healthcare Gabrielle O'Keeffe said: “It is a fantastic achievement to see the Kinsale Community Health and Wellbeing Resource Centre or The Well up and running in the heart of the town - a headquarters for so much support and positive work.
“I know just how vibrant and important these 3 groups are within this community and it is wonderful that they now have a permanent hub, fully kitted-out, where they can work together to improve the mental health of both young and old. The fact that a youth café sits alongside a Men's Shed here is truly inclusive and mutually beneficial.” She continued: “The repurposing of the vacant health centre premises is an absolute credit to Carmel Murphy and her Well volunteer team, who have worked so hard and fund-raised so much to help make this happen. We are delighted to be able to support The Well by providing the premises and wish to congratulate everyone involved on such a remarkable achievement,” she said. Further information can be found at The Well's Facebook page.