Who are Parents for Opportunities?

They are the fundraising branch of Positive Futures, based in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. Initially Positive Futures ran afterschools clubs in the Lisburn area for children and young people with a learning disability. But unfortunately due to a budget cut they were no longer able to fund these clubs, which at the time ran 5 days a week, so they had to stop them.

The parents stepped in and decided to raise the money themselves, and that is how Parents for Opportunities came about. The staff of Positive Futures would still organise the activities, provide the support staff and also do risk assessments, but the parents themselves would raise the money to run the clubs.

The group first got together at the end of 2006, and formed a committee. The first afterschools club began in St Patrick's High School in Lisburn, and the children had the chance to learn cookery, trampolining, science, arts and crafts and computers. Teachers and students from the school volunteered 2 afternoons a week, and the scheme was a great success.

Recently the clubs have branched out to Trinity Community Venue, the Leisureplex and Glenmore Activity Centre. The committe meets on the second Wednesday of every month, and they also hold 2 public meetings every year, one of which is the AGM.

Below is a list of post holding members of the committee. However as these meetings are informal, any parent is welcome to attend, and several do on a regular basis. Also present at the meetings are representatives from Positive Futures.

Chair-Brian O'Neill
Vice Chair-Charan Bell
Secretary-Lisa Stewart
Treasurer-Kelly Connaghan

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