History of Solas



In 1999, as part of the Government’s Partnership 2000 Programme, the Department of Social, Community & Family Affairs pro-actively targeted a number of areas in the country for the development of new Family Resource Centres. As part of this process Headford, Co. Galway was identified as an area in which a Family Resource Centre was to be established.

During 2002, a series of meetings were organised by West Training & Development with local community groups, activists and statutory agencies to discuss the setting up of a Family Resource Centre in the Headford area. This included meetings with key groups and individuals and a number of more general public information meetings. Arising from this consultation / information process a core group of local people volunteered to work with West Training & Development to set about developing a 3-year workplan for the Family Resource Centre. This entailed identifying the needs in the local area that a FRC could address, outlining the aims and objectives for the FRC and agreeing the key target groups that the Resource Centre would seek to work with and support.

Solas opened to the public in September 2005 starting off with one office and a full-time Co-ordinator. In 2006 a part- time administrator was appointed and made full – time in 2007. Due to its increased success Solas Family Resource Centre moved to bigger premises on the Main Street in Headford in August 2007, a big step up from their humble beginnings in a small room in the Parish Hall so as to expand even more and provide more services and supports to the community.

‘Solas’ means light which reflects the ethos of the organisation. The centre is a Community run project and values the input of all the people in the area on what issues need addressing.
The official launch of Solas Family Resource Centre, Headford took place on Saturday 28th of June 2008. The launch was performed by Michael Kitt TD Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (with special responsibility for local services). 



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