The CDDCC (now trading as Anam Croí) was established after a group of people from the community held a public meeting (May 2011) and identified a need to provide a service to the elderly, isolated community members and those with early dementia or other ailments that limited their social interaction. The mandate also included the provising of housing for older people. Following this a committee was formed and a Limited Company established, charitable status applied for and we became an approved housing body.
The primary source of funding is the Anam Croí charity shop that occupies 6,500 sq.ft in The Courtyard, Claregalway. These units were purchased by the charity in 2022, underwent extensive renovation, and now is one of the most popular charity shops in Galway and the surrounding areas.
The Day Centre opened on 8th October 2012, in a rented premises. Extensive fundraising took place which enabled the charity to construct a purpose built day centre along with 14 independent living homes for older people, on a site donated by a local farmer.
The day centre welcomes up to 15 service users per day, Monday to Friday and offers a warm, welcoming place where people can meet, enjoy socialising with their peers, take part in activities and be provided with a hot nutritious meal before leaving for home.
Anam Croí Housing has a dedicated housing officer that works closely with the tenants and the local authority.
The charity now employs 18 people between three parts of the business, the Day Centre, The Housing and the Charity Shop and has a large group of dedicated volunteers. The centre is also used as a community support hub through the availability of wheelchair accessible shower facilities.
We are fortunate enough to have a wheelchair accessible minibus and a wheelchair accessible car to enable people with mobility issues to attend.
The CDDCC/Anam Croí has received support from the St. Vincent de Paul, Galway County Council, Galway County VEC, Galway Rural Development, The National Lottery and the local HSE lottery fund. Within the three years of operation the charity was short listed in the County Mayor's Awards 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016 and was a finalist in the 2014, 2015 and 2017 Irish Healthcare Awards.
The Day Centre has become an established part of the community and is used by other groups providing services to older people such as Senior Citizens groups and the local Active Retirement Group.
Further information on Anam Croí can be obtained on our website, www.anamcroi.ie.
