Who We Are

Select the following document link which outlines the tremendous amount of work the group have accomplished in the last 4 years: Progress Document (1mb)

AN INTRODUCTION

A number of years ago, a group of community spirited people identified the need for a community centre and ancillary services in the district of Sixmilebridge and environs.

In May 2003, having carried out considerable market research, a not-for-profit co-operative society was formed. This was called Sixmilebridge & District Community Complex Society Ltd. and was registered with ICOS.

The committee became aware of two main aims: to provide the services and to provide the building

While the group started the onerous task of applying for grants and fundraising to provide the building, they also set about giving some services to the community as soon as possible. To this end, the committee made a start on both childcare and elderly services. In 2003, we started a taxi service, which later evolved into a universally accessible bus service for some of our senior citizens to avail of the day care centre in Clarecastle.

In 2004 we established a community pre-school service and in July 2005 we started a summer camp in July .
While grant approval was looking hopeful, the whole process was held up by an appeal to An Bord Pleanala. This appeal was dismissed, but the ten month delay meant we had missed out on EOCP & Sports capital funding and had to re-apply under a new scheme. At the time of print, the childcare application is at the building specialists and an application for funding for elderly services is in progress.

At this stage, the immediate need for a community centre was obvious, so the committee secured a lease on the old courthouse building. After extensive renovations, and extensive fundraising, Teach na Chuirte, was opened in October 2005, and Sixmilebridge & District Community Complex Society Ltd. started trading as The Bridge Complex.

In 2007, we were awarded charitable status. As well as giving a standing and credibility to the organisation, charitable status opens the door to a wide range of benefits, such as availability of grants. In addition, individual and corporate donors to a charity may be entitled to tax relief for donations made, and the society may benefit from bequests from community-minded individuals in their wills, without having to pay inheritance tax.

The Bridge Complex is made up of a number of committees:

- Administration/Management committee	- Childcare Facility Design committee
- Courthouse Management committee	- Childcare Board of Management committee.
- Fundraising committee

Our focus still remains the same as always - to provide the services and to provide the building.