On Wednesday 12th October staff from Cedar’s Inclusion Works service in the SHSCT region held an event at Armagh City Hotel to recognise the hard work of service users with brain injury and learning disability. Service users were presented with certificates of accreditation, whilst others received certificates of achievement.  

The event also offered an opportunity to recognise and thank community partners such as local councils, employers and community agencies. These valued partnerships enable the staff team to support participants to further their goals regarding employment, training and social inclusion.  

Two service users spoke at the event to inform the audience of the benefit they gained from having engaged with the Inclusion Works service. Gemma McKeown spoke about her programme with Cedar Inclusion Works and outlined the benefit she felt within her own life. Gemma outlined the various courses she has completed, which have resulted in her gaining qualifications for the first time.  Fionnuala McGrath, mother of Service User Cormac spoke to the group about the support given to Cormac whilst on the service. She explained: 

Cedar provided a life jacket when Cormac was in some very choppy water. He can swim - he just needed the encouragement and support to get ashore. Finding the right people and the right place were essential to him staying afloat. 

 

Cedar also thanked Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, who facilitated the remote delivery of Disability Awareness Training to local council staff during lockdown. Staff were able to access the training online and currently plan to complete online Brain Injury Awareness training. 

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Michael Savage said: 

The partnership between The Cedar Foundation and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has been invaluable. The online training recently provided to Council employees gave an important insight detailing what we can to do to support people with disabilities.

I would like to thank the representatives from Cedar who worked with Council officials to produce this excellent training.   I believe the key to successful partnership working is agreed shared goals and this objective has been at the core of all the projects delivered to date.  I would like to thank The Cedar Foundation for recognising this partnership today and I look forward to future initiatives

Cedar will continue to work closely with partners to deliver services that support individuals and families living with disability, autism and brain injury to live the lives they choose. Cedar’s vision for an inclusive society for all was reflected in the diversity of achievements celebrated at the event. If you would like to find our more about current services please visit www.cedar-foundation.org 

Click on the link to see all photos from the event

 

 

Inclusion Works project is part funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014 – 2020 and the Department for the Economy. Funding is also provided by the Department for Communities and all five local HSCTs in Northern Ireland. 

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Inclusion Works project is part funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014 – 2020 and the Department for the Economy. Funding is also provided by the Department for Communities and all five local HSCTs in Northern Ireland.