'Milestone' moment for Cork's Rainbow Club with keys secured for new forever home 

The Rainbow Club Cork Centre for Autism has received the keys to its ‘forever home’ in Mahon, with more than €50,000 raised for renovations.

CEO and co-founder of the Rainbow Club, Karen O’Mahony, said it marks a “significant milestone in the organisation’s journey to provide expanded services and supports for neurodivergent children, teenagers, adults, and their families, across Cork city and county”.

Once the ‘new home’ fundraising target of €75,000 is reached, Ms O’Mahony said the building, formerly home to Mahon’s Health Centre and later the HSE Ambulance Service, will be transformed into a dedicated centre of excellence for neurodivergent people.

Ms O’Mahony told The Echo that this money is needed to provide the service with access to loan funding, which will be used for renovations to the new building on Lakeland Crescent.

“The new facility will allow The Rainbow Club to significantly expand its programmes while creating a welcoming, safe and fully accessible environment for the community it serves,” she said.

“While taking possession of the building is a major achievement, substantial renovation work must now be completed before services can relocate.

“The initial phase of works will include repairing and upgrading the existing building; replacing ceilings and outdated fittings; installing automated doors to improve accessibility and service user safety; completing essential fire safety upgrades; reconfiguring internal spaces to ensure the building is fully accessible; fitting out therapy rooms; activity spaces and community areas, and creating a dedicated sensory room designed to meet the needs of neurodivergent individuals.

“These works are essential to ensure the building meets the highest standards of accessibility, safety and comfort before services can begin operating from the new location.

“Once renovations are complete, The Rainbow Club Cork will move into the building in phases.

“Phase One will see the relocation of several key services, including art therapy, the gamer cafe, counselling services, life skills and mentorship programmes, the teen and adult hub, and the siblings programme.”

Ms O’Mahony further said while the team at The Rainbow Club are “incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped us reach this milestone, we now ask our community to help us take the final steps towards opening our doors”.

The organisation is now inviting individuals, businesses, and community groups to donate to the renovation fund.

For more information, or to make a donation to the fund, visit: tinyurl.com/yc86u26d.