News

New Resource Centre Unveiled By The Cedar Foundation

Date Posted: Thursday 04 November 2004

A new Resource Centre offering innovative Brain Injury and Children & Young People's Services for people with disabilities officially opened its doors today. Mr Paul Martin, Chief Inspector, Social Services Inspectorate, launched The Cedar Foundation's new North West Regional Resource Centre, based at the Vale in Greysteel and heard how the services on offer have developed rapidly over the last 5 years, culminating in today's launch of the dedicated centre for The Foundation.

The Cedar Foundation Children & Young People?s Services provide a range of services that empower and support disabled children & young people and their families through Northern Ireland. Four key programmes are available, all focussing on supporting children and young people with physical disability so they feel included as equals within their communities.

These four programmes are Outlook, Transitions, Youth Matters and Family Support each specialising in different areas, such as social inclusion, peer training, confidence and self esteem building, work placements and access to disability awareness training, information seminars and home visits.

Speaking at the launch, Deborah Boyle, commented:

"Last summer I was invited to become a part of a new group of young disabled people to look at issues affecting peer support and us. As I had already been involved in other programmes within the Cedar Foundation I was happy to come along. For me being involved in the group and working on the training pack has helped me gain further confidence in myself and learn more about peer support through helping each other in the group."

The Cedar Foundation Brain Injury Services have been recognised as a much needed area with tremendous scope for expansion. The services offer people with a brain injury the opportunity for training, personal development and employment options through three programmes. These programmes focus on individual strengths and needs, training to aid concentration, planning and organising, communications and relationship skills and training and employments opportunities.

Gabriel Murray, Service User added: "The support that I have been getting from The Cedar Foundation has been very good and a lot more support that I first anticipated, whenever I need help or advice they are there for me. With the level of support that I am receiving I now don?t fear what the future holds for me and much as I did before I came in contact with The Cedar Foundation".

The Cedar Foundation's Brain Injury and Children & Young People's services have come about as a direct result of the partnership established between the Western Health & Social Services Board, Foyle Health and Social Services Trust with support from the Department of Health & Social Services.

Mr Liam Hargan, Foyle Health and Social Services Trust commented: "Foyle Trust has worked in partnership with The Cedar Foundation for a number of years in the provision of a range of Children?s and Adult Services. They have always been a pro-active service provider, keeping service users at the centre of their business. This ethos, coupled with well-managed services, has resulted in the delivery of quality initiatives."

Mr Paul Martin concluded the day's proceedings by officially opening the North West Regional Resource Centre and added: "The opening of this centre will help to secure the development of these two vital services. The Cedar Foundation is to be congratulated for taking forward these important initiatives in partnership with the full range of statutory agencies as well as with disabled people themselves."

The Cedar Foundation's vision is to play a leading role in the achievement of a community in which people with disabilities are valued and participate as equal citizens. Our mission is to deliver a range of services that empower and support people with disabilities to be fully included in their communities.

To find out more please log on to www.cedar-foundation.org or Tel: Children & Young People?s Services: 028 7181 3631 or Brain Injury Services: 028 7181 4651.

Please click here to download Gabriel Murray''s Presentation

Please click here to download Deborah Boyle''s Presentation

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