IRD Duhallow Progress Jun 21/22.qxp_Layout 1 21/07/2022 12:54 Page 39
IRD DUHALLOW | PROGRESS REPORT
2020 - 2021
STRIVE IRD Duhallow recognises the hugely positive impact that the Ability Programme had on individual’s health and wellbeing, which is why we are determined to continue to support these young people into employment and with their personal development. The STRIVE programme is a Killian Buckley enjoying the Circus Skills continuation from Ability and is Workshop. funded through Dormant Accounts. The aim is to support young people across a wide spectrum of abilities to improve their employment prospects and social skills through a range of person-centred supports and participation in community life. The programme is running from September 2021 to December 2022 on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the James O Keeffe Institute.
Education & Training A broad range of courses have been delivered this year including: • Social and Personal Development which included confidence building, community involvement, assertiveness, public speaking and relationship building. • Career Preparation; interview skills, CV’s. Great friendships have been formed on • Drama and Circus Skills. STRIVE. Pictured here Joe Collins and Daniel O’Loughlin taking part in a walk • Art and Crafts. and talk around the pitch and putt. • Cookery, Money Management, Teamwork. • Sport, Exercise, Nutrition and Healthy Eating. • Gardening and Nature Therapy.
Examples of the support available through STRIVE include: one-toone-person centred planning, support to develop life skills such as money management, laundry and cookery, work preparation training, social and personal development, dramatherapy, art & craft therapy, assistance in gaining The STRIVE programme is tailored to meet the needs of the individual participants; here is work experience and voluntary Barry O Brien (Tús) providing one to one placements and work shadowing. supports with Kevin O’Connor. Social inclusion programmes such as the STRIVE Programme allow individuals to feel a sense of belonging and to make choices. It helps to identify the unique needs of the person, focusing on their strengths and abilities.
Coffee Morning in aid of the Irish Community Air Ambulance The group organised a coffee morning in aid of the Irish Community Air Ambulance, which was held in June in Duhallow Community Food Services. The group did all the planning and organising, and learned how to use the coffee machine, serve customers and make posters in preparation for the charity event. They Members of the STRIVE Group who successfully coordinated a Coffee Morning baked their own cakes, buns, scones in aid of the Irish Air Ambulance with chair and other treats for everyone to enjoy of the Equality Working Group Pat Brosnan on the morning. The coffee morning and Brighid Ide Walsh, IRD Duhallow. event was a great taster event to show the participants the different aspects of what’s involved in organising an event, while also raising money for a great charity.
IRD Duhallow is supporting 15 young people through person-centred supports to enable young people to advocate for themselves, make informed choices about how they want to live their life, at present and in the future. The programme has been key in helping the participants to develop skills to enhance their independence, build their self-confidence and in supporting greater engagement in community life. We work closely with a number of referral agencies including St. Joseph’s Foundation, HSE Mental Health Services and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
Engagement with Local Employers The STRIVE programme aims to help young people to gain the skills, competencies and experiences needed to be career ready. In July, the STRIVE participants undertook two weeks of work placement. They were supported to seek the work Mayor of the County of Cork Gillian Coughlan with placements themselves and Tim Twomey, Jamie O Donoghue, Kevin O Connor to make informed choices and Co-ordinator Bríghid-Íde Walsh about their future careers. Some of the placements included Duhallow Furniture REVAMP, Duhallow Community Food Services, a local clothes shop, accounts / administration and a range of retail services.
The group met Minister for Education Norma Foley during her visit to IRD Duhallow, pictured with Jackie Kelly and Maura Walsh of IRD Duhallow.
Testimony – Tim Twomey Tim previously completed a year on Ability and is now participating on the STRIVE programme. He has recently started the Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP) to build new skills and gain work experience. “I started on Ability last year and I really enjoyed it and made good friends. I decided I wanted to come back to the new STRIVE programme because I had a good experience and wanted to develop my skills more. The STRIVE programme has opened new opportunities for me and I am now partaking on the Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP). I am working in the Duhallow Community Food Services for my placement, and I am learning a lot of new skills and getting to see what working life is like. I would recommend STRIVE to anyone, it given me something to do and I’ve made great friends on the course.”
STRIVE participant’s Tim Twomey and Daniel O’Loughlin painting their beautiful pottery pieces.
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