Life in the ould dogs yet

Description

We the RAMS are a group of senior men all over 70 years of age. To involve older Men in physical activities, continue Lifelong learning & talks. Keeping men healthy and active, with involvement, and socialising. Bowls/ bowls competition, Pool playing, and pool competition, darts & Table tennis. Gardening project, promoting the local National school/church yard, Environs of hall area, general cleaning of Community hall area. Village enhancement with obsolete farming machinery, supporting the Tidy Towns. RAMS in Rhythm/ visiting Local Nursing homes. Hospitals Older persons events, educational tours/ walks/ sightseeing. Summer cycling group. Meeting once weekly, for social activities. Provision of hot lunch once monthly. Visits on Health issues. We also have, fund raise, for Marie Keating Foundation. Carol singing for SVP. Colm Bell Repatreation, Barnardos, Cancer daffodils day, relay for life, Darkness into light. Intergeneration with the local St Finians National school. Supporting the local National School with garden planting, educational talks to school goers. Organised Christmas dinner. Afternoon tea dances. Graveyard Mapping and recording.

Aim of Initiative

We the RAMS aim to provide a safe and welcoming environment for senior older men, a place to enjoy activities, heat, food, and treats.
A committee of 12 members, 56 members, committee meetings held and documented once a month. Weekly meetings of members with hospitality, activities, friendship, engagement with other like thinking men. grave yard mapping group/gardening group/singing group, “RAMS in Rhythm/ bowls group. Membership of; 56 men.
Organise our own Christmas lunch, Well being mornings, Social inclusion mornings Provide morning beverages,. freshly made scones, brown bread, special dietary breads. Baking done by our ow members, Matt Dowling contributor of “Live at 3”.
RAMS in Rhythm singing group, proving sing alongs monthly. recognition of members birthdays, organised Christmas dinners, educational trips, fundraise for various charities, €210,000 donated by RAMS to charities since our singing group inception in the past seven years.
RAMS in Rhythm donated €10,000 to four charities ; The Capuchin Fathers Homeless; Sv de Paul, Down Syndrome, this year so far. Laura Lynn Cancer research.
The RAMS in Rhythm provide singing in local hospitals, Tallaght Hospital/ James Hospital/ Peamount Hospital/ local Nursing homes/ St Patrick’s day parade.
Community events/ fund raisers for Heart foundation/ Age Action/ Multiple Sclerosis/ local school/ Dawn Chorus/ senior citizens parties. Social inclusion and Well being mornings. singing for local National school. Christmas light turn on for SDCC, Saggart Community, senior citizens parties/ Celebrate Members 80th birthdays. intergenerational Movie mornings, with local school.
Daffodil day singing and fundraising, Darkness int Light in Corkagh park singing
Christmas carol singing for various charities, SVP, Capuchin Fathers, The Caroline Cancer Foundation. Irish Heart Foundation, Shopping centres, Community events.
We organise Daffodil days, local fundraisers, coffee mornings.
Our new release “The Michael Hogan Stand” is the RAMS in Rhythm contribution to 1920 – 2020 commemorations. 17 members of our group recorded this recently. Cut a newCD last Christmas for our four charities, and donated €1000, to each charity for Christmas.

Who is it aimed at

our initiative is to keep older men active, happy, engaged in their community. Support them with eats and treats, good company, and a Bun for “her”. Supporting All Community groups and our nominated charities:
SVP, Down Syndrom Kildare, Capuchin day centre, Our Lady’s Hospice Harold’s cross, Barnardos
Local events who are fundraising, First responders, Colm Bell Repatreation, Local Tidy Towns, local events. Relay for life, Daffodil day. Darkness into Light.
Any Community event we are requested t sing at.

3 Steps critical to success

1. The the RAMS in Rhythm to have safe, secure, and reliable sound equipment.
   To present ourselves in a professional manner. Respect for all of our charities, and support from the general public. All members are most welcome to attend each Thursday morning, and avail of eats and treats, freshly baked scones/clotted cream/jams/marmalade
   Brown breads, or biscuits, gluten free options.
   Month treats of sausage rolls, rissoles, chipolatas and French fries, Chicken Gougons, croquettes & Spring rolls.
2. Keeping men active with various activities:
   Mat Bowls, table tennis, pool playing, card games,
   Engagement with like minded members.
   Eats and treats
   Discussions, social inclusion, planning educational trips
   Organising members special birthdays, with birthday cakes for 80th and 90th Birthday celebrations
   Large cake, gift, signed large card from all members present.
3. The RAMS in Rhythm are our singing groups, who entertain at various events including local hospitals, local nursing homes, Community events, St Patricks parade, Christmas turn on the lights
   Enjoying ourselves by singing, organising our own Christmas functions, in house raffles, making Christmas pudding for raffles.
   Supporting the local Tidy towns ReNewcastle, with planting the Community hall planters, planting a tree of hope after the Covid, planting a tree of memory in memoty of all our past members

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. The deaths of members, members health issues, and not being able to attend weekly activitiesRecruiting new younger members
   Commitment to singing in various events.
2. Funding for replacing of obsolete equipment, repairs to equipment,
   Singing materials & equipment.Raising funds to produce a CD for Carol singing
   Replacement of RAMS in Rhythm attire, uniforms.
   Subsistence 7 Travel expenses, for RAMS in Rhythm at events,
3. Replacement of RAMS in Rhythm attire, uniforms.
   Subsistence & Travel expenses, for RAMS in Rhythm at events,
   encouraging men to commit to all the activities, avail of the coffee mornings, support the educational trips

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Charities, organizations, charity groups, supporting the local Community
   Christmas carol singing for all local events”Turn on the lights” events in
   Saggart, Rathcoole, ReNewcstle, SDCC ClondalkinDonation funding to SVP Christmas appeal, Capuchin Day Centre, Kildare Down syndrome, Hospice.
2. Keeping men engaged, deter loneliness and keep them engaged, happy interested in life, and a purpose to live, improving their talent.
3. They make a great contribution to the local Community
   Doing repairs in the local community centre.
   Supporting all charity events locally.
   Gardening and supporting the Tidy towns group.
   Preparation of Church yard for events, Christmas, Funerals, Communions,, confirmations, weddings.They have a topic to talk to their spouses on returning home.
   “Well how did today go?”

   Challenges you had in the Planning/Delivery of the Initiative (Please give details)
   Encouraging members to participate in activities,  Go for Life, exercise, health topics,
   Carrot and Stick approach.