News
Children's Commissioner listens to young people's
Date Posted: Thursday 05 February 2004
The newly appointed Children''s Commissioner, Nigel Williams, has a keen interest in listening to the views of children and young people with physical disability in Northern Ireland. He came to the perfect venue to find out these views when he visited The Cedar Foundation in Belfast''s Training and Resource Centre today. The Foundation works in partnership with people in Northern Ireland who have physical disability and Mr Williams came along to learn about three of The Cedar Foundation''s youth programmes from the young people who have taken part or are taking part in them.
The programmes focus on young disabled people''s rights. The Outlook Programme''s aim is to make young disabled people feel included and part of their Community, it helps them build confidence and gives them the chance to learn new skills and take part in mainstream activities such as drama classes. The Transitions Programme works with young people with physical disabilities aged 14-20, helping them to make the transition from school to further education or employment. This programme supports teenagers at a time when they really need it.
One of the most exciting programmes that The Cedar Foundation runs is The Youth Inclusion Peer Education Project, the programme was written in part by young disabled people. The programme is a 1st for Northern Ireland; training 12 young people with physical disability, through an accredited programme, to become disability/peer mentors for other disabled people. Making sure that they have a right to participate and have their voices heard.
Nigel Williams, Children''s Commissioner added:
"My role is to act as a watchdog, looking after the well being of all young people in Northern Ireland; that includes children and young people who have physical disabilities. We want to offer all young people support and the opportunity to learn new skills and I am delighted to be here today to listen and learn first hand of The Cedar Foundation''s successful programmes, from the youth that use them".
Mr Don Bradley from Ulster Community & Hospitals Trust (UCHT), who is responsible for Statutory Health and Social Services, also visited and spoke of the Partnership approach that The Cedar Foundation has with the Trust and how that has made it possible for new services for disabled people to be developed. That was how the Outlook Programme started, as a pilot scheme at UCHT, due to it''s success it has been mainstreamed and is now implemented in six other Health & Social Services Trust Areas.
Stephen Mathews, Chief Executive of The Cedar Foundation continued:
"The Cedar Foundation works with all age groups in Northern Ireland and we recognise that today''s children and young people are extremely important members of society. I am very proud of their achievements through our youth programmes".
The Cedar Foundation''s primary objective is to work in partnership with people who have physical disabilities in Northern Ireland.
For more information please contact Gayle Campbell, PR Officer, The Cedar Foundation, Tel: 028 9066 6188 or e-mail g.campbell@cedar-foundation.org
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