County Roscommon supermarket announces ‘safe place’ initiative for students after school

A Roscommon Town supermarket has announced a new initiative aimed at helping children and parents.

Brennan’s Centra, Abbeytown, recently announced that its premises can be used by young people after school.

Being ideally placed between the town’s main schools, the supermarket will provide a safe place for children to stay after school if they miss their bus, are waiting to be collected or will provide a shop phone to students whose phone battery may have died.

The post gained huge traction online, receiving a wave of positive feedback from local people.

Darren Brennan told the Roscommon Herald that the post had registered 65,000 views online within the first three days of it being posted.

He added that having recently opened the store in Roscommon Town, he felt it was an important service to bring to the town.

“We’ve been doing this for years as part of the Centra brand,” said Mr Brennan, referring to his other store in Athlone.  “Our aim is to get involved in the local community, and stores are obviously encouraged to support the community as best we can.” 

Both Brennan’s Centras have ideal placement and facilities to cater for students. “We have a number of schools around each store, so it works really well. Young people can come in and do their homework while they wait for their parents to pick them up,” the Centra owner said.

The store environment is ideal for students. “The seating area goes quiet after lunch, and after that it’s just there, so we’re happy enough to let the young people use it and work away. It’s a good environment.” 

Darren has encouraged students to use the store as a means to contact their parents “If needed by young people, the shop phone is always there to use. There’s no bother at all, we’re always there to help.” 

He added: “We are a family business – that’s the most important thing, so the main idea is to support local and go from there.” 

Parents are encouraged to point out the shop to the children as a safe place to go after school, and explain that support is nearby in Brennan’s Centra.