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New home for Birmingham Irish Welfare Centre  WHEN
The Irish Post was first published in 1970 one of the very first picture
stories on the front page related to Birmingham Irish Welfare and Information
Centre.
At the time it was based in a small shop and office in Moat Row in Birmingham.
But since then they have moved several times and it is now based at the
Birmingham Irish Club.
But the organisation is again poised to move to much larger offices —
in what was the former St. Anne’s Parish Centre situated alongside
St. Anne’s RC Church.
Finishing touches are now taking place to the new premises — which
will use three floors of the original social club although the main function
room at St. Anne’s is still operational.
The new premises will house a large reception area, administration and
outreach to house the working staff of 31.
Part of the Irish Welfare remit is running the hugely-successful St. Eugene’s
Court premises in Digbeth — home to 44 Irish men with special needs.
St. Eugene’s also has a huge variety of in-house services and there
is a daily drop-in centre service with hot meals, clothing and medical
advice.
In addition Irish Welfare also operates several services for Irish senior
citizens including the hugely-popular Tuesday Club.
The new premises will be on a 20-year lease from the Birmingham Archdiocese
via St. Anne’s parish and the money for the refurbishment has come
from an on-going Irish Welfare building fund, bequests, donations and
voluntary funding.
The new premises will be officially opened on Friday, February 29. |
