Parents of young teens are often faced with a dilemma when their child starts secondary school. While the young person may be responsible enough to be left home alone, many parents are uncomfortable with a child coming home to an empty house.
Research has also shown the importance of supporting and guiding teenagers just as much as when they were toddlers; both being times of significant physical, cognitive, emotional, and neurological development.
Finding it difficult to source appropriate after school care for her own teenage daughter, Tracy Friel, a youth worker with 13 years' experience in community youth projects decided to set up a new afterschool service for teenagers. Opening on the west side of the city and serving Colaiste na Coiribe, Salerno, Endas, and the Dominican College, Friel will collect young people from school, provide a hot healthy snack, and depending on the child’s personal plan will offer homework support or music lessons.
Offering the service from her home in Mincloon, Rahoon, the atmosphere is one of creativity, learning, and fun. Drums, piano, guitars, art materials, and a large book collection are all available to the young people. Co-founder of SingBang music workshops Tracy has five years' experience delivering community music groups and teaching guitar to children and holds grade five in ABRSM music theory.
