News

Life's All About Choices With The Cedar Foundation

Date Posted: Wednesday 10 March 2004

Training Programme Participants The Cedar Foundation are looking for people of all ages to get involved with helping people who have a physical disability, while helping themselves at the same time. The part-time, six month, Project Resource Training Programme is a pioneering course that helps people who are over 18 and currently unemployed learn new skills, have new experiences and meet new friends while being a support worker for a person who has physical disability within a learning environment, be that college, open learning, community based training or in Community Centres.

You can learn core skills such as disability awareness, first aid, communication & confidence skills and equality training. On top of that you can choose what to learn next How about support skills for people who have a brain injury or a sensory impairment, perhaps the ECDL computer training course or learn to be a note-taker for those attending college course who are unable to physically write themselves. The more you learn the more employment opportunities will open themselves up to you.

You also get to choose your support placement as well, it only takes up 2/3 hours of your time per week and you can be placed in The Cedar Foundation''s Training & Resource Centre in Balmoral or at any of our training facilities. The placements also extend to Queens University or BIFHE where you can help physically disabled people learn arts, crafts or music as well as core skills such as numeracy and literacy.

Denise Clements, The Cedar Foundations project co-ordinator says: "The Project Resource Training Programme aims to train people properly to work with people who have physical disability. It''s hands on teaching and gives trainees real life skills. It''s OCN Level three which is at a level equivalent to NVQ Level three, so it''s a good qualification. We also give support to trainees in essay writing and portfolio building and the tutors are very supportive".

Already people have found employment due to the training they have received through this Cedar Foundation programme, employment they wouldn''t have got otherwise.

Some of the comments coming back from people who are currently on The Project Resource Programme are:

"I have developed a greater understanding of people with disability." "You forget about the disability and just see the person."

"I was a novice and hadn''t worked before. The Cedar Foundation has been great, it''s a very happy and positive atmosphere."

"I have just secured a full-time job working with disabled and able-bodied adults, I wouldn''t have got the job without this training."

"I would like to work hands-on with people who have physical disabilities." "It has increased our abilities and confidence, we have met each other, made new friendships and we support each other."

The project is funded by PEACE II through Proteus and is in partnership with Belfast Institute for Further and Higher Education.

If you are interested in finding out more contact Denise Clements, Project Resource Officer, Cedar Foundation Training Services, 1 Upper Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT10 0GW or Tel: 028 90612424 or e-mail: d.clements@cedar-foundation.org but hurry, places are going fast. Remember it''s your choice and chance to make a difference.

For more press information contact Gayle Campbell, PR Officer, The Cedar Foundation Tel: 028 90 66 6188

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