CHILDREN’S CHARITY Barnardos opened an early-years service in a state-of-the-art centre in Knocknaheeny, Cork, yesterday.
The services in the Barnardos Brighter Futures Centre are aimed at improving the educational outcomes of children living in the area.
There are approximately 1,200 children living in Knocknaheeny who currently face significant challenges in breaking the cycle of poverty. At the opening of the centre Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe said the site was the start of a bright new future for the children of Knocknaheeny.
“We are targeting early child hood, we are targeting disadvantage, and we are trying to provide them with an opportunity so that they will have access at the end of the day to third-level education.”
Chief executive of Barnardos Fergus Finlay said the children in Knocknaheeny deserved the same opportunities as their peers to reach their potential.