Ability

Ability Programme

The Ability Programme provides funding to 27 local, regional and national projects in the Republic of Ireland that focus on bringing young people with disabilities between the ages of 15 and 29 closer to the labour market. The aims of the programme are achieved by using a range of person-centred supports. IRD Duhallow as lead partner collaborates with Ballyhoura Development and South East Cork Area Development (SECAD) to deliver the Ability programme across Cork, Kerry and Limerick. We work closely with a number of referral agencies including St. Joseph’s Foundation, Charleville, HSE Mental Health Services and the Department of Ability Programme Participants Hayleigh Naughton and Employment Affairs and Ciaran Higgins being creative during their weekly Art & Craft Social Protection. Therapy classes. Nationally, the Ability Programme has supported 886 Young People with a Disability, 574 families and 745 employers. Over the past year IRD Duhallow’ s Ability Programme has supported 13 Young People through a range of person-centred planning supports. These supports enabled the Young People to 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.

Support to access & participate in Education & Training Person Centred planning has allowed the Youth Disability Engagement Development Officer to focus primarily on the Young Person rather than on their disability, supporting them to implement a plan to achieve their ambitions and goals and which focuses on all areas of their lives. Thinking about the future is an important aspect of person-centred planning, which should aim to build on the Ciaran Higgins, David Shelley and person’s strengths and skills, and help them Hayleigh Naughton cooking up some pancakes on Pancake Tuesday consider what they want most in life. as part of their Cookery Module.

IRD Duhallow’s Ability Programme, builds upon the young people’s learning through practical activities that support them to transfer skills learned to home life and their local community. Through the delivery of a range of Joe Collins, Year 1 Ability participant volunteers weekly in training courses adapted to Duhallow Furniture REVAMP. individuals’ specific needs, the programme aims to help these young people become as independent as possible and aid their progression.

A broad range of courses have been delivered including: • Life Skills training in areas such as cookery, money management, keeping safe online, laundry skills, teamwork and shopping; • Social and Personal Development which involved modules such as confidence building, community involvement, assertiveness, relationship building, personal care and hygiene; • Career Preparation Programme; • Art & Craft Programme • Sports Workshops

Pictured are some of the participants of this year’s Ability Programme, taking a break from the classroom and exploring the Therapeutic Gardens. Promotion of meaningful Social Roles Social inclusion programmes such as the Ability Programme allows individuals to feel a sense of belonging, to have an ability to make a choice. It helps to identify the unique needs of the person, focusing on their strengths and abilities. The Ability programme has empowered its participants to develop as individuals and enjoy new challenges through the exploration and promotion of volunteering opportunities and social action whilst making a positive contribution to the local community. Participation in meaningful social activities has been demonstrated to have a significant positive impact on Young People, connecting them with their local community. All of our participants have been supported and encouraged to participate in activities within their own communities. For example, one of our participants joined the local drama group and participated in their variety show in February while another attends their local Men’s Shed weekly and one whom attends a local knitting club.

Engagement with Local Employers Caroline Jones presenting her vision board The Ability Programme seeks to directly as part of her Life Skills Module. address the barriers faced by Young People with Disabilities, trying to access the labour market. The programme aims to help Young People to gain the skills, competencies and experiences needed to be career ready. They are supported by our career coaches and the Youth Disability Engagement Officer to make informed choices about their future careers. They are supported to seek work placements within their own locality. To date, the programme participants have been supported with work placements through Duhallow Furniture REVAMP, a local clothes shop, accounts/administration, delivery services, food & catering and retail services.

IRD Duhallow is delighted that it’s Ability Programme was featured in the current issue of the ESF Newsletter, which showcases the achievements of the European Social Fund in Ireland.

Response to Covid-19 Our current year 2 cohort were half way through their programme timetable when training was postponed due to COVID-19. To continue our engagement with participants a range of supports were put in place to ensure continuation of the In response to COVID-19 restrictions, programme. Training and support packs classes are now delivered online for Ability. Pictured is tutor Jeffery Fitzgerald were put together for individuals tailored hosting their weekly Boxercise Session. to each individuals needs and interests and areas covered included life skills, sport and recreational, wellbeing and art. During this time participants have been trying out some new activities in their homes including Yoga, Zumba, Cookery and mindfulness. The Youth Disability Engagement Officer supports participants via the phone and weekly Social & Personal Development sessions take place on a Thursday morning with their tutor via zoom.

Equality for Women & Childcare

The Women and Childcare Working Group continues its efforts to identify and provide supports to address the issues that affect the lives of women in Duhallow and advocates for the positive development of women’s rights and opportunities, especially those disempowered within rural areas.

Lucy Wolfe, Sleep Consultant presented a Seminar on Sleep and is pictured here with Judy O’Leary, Chair of Duhallow Women’s Forum and Helen O’Sullivan of IRD Duhallow.

Women also face a disadvantage in accessing educational opportunities, flexible employment, childcare and rural transport. This has resulted in further excluding women from society, putting them at greater risk of poverty, social exclusion and negatively impacting mental health. The Women and Childcare Working Group recognises the fact that if disadvantaged women in particular are to achieve equality in the labour market it is essential to remove, or at the least to significantly address, barriers to their progression and participation. A number of initiatives, supports and programmes have been put in place to meet the needs of women in Duhallow focusing on the development of confidence levels, assertiveness skills and self-esteem of women.

Duhallow Women’s Forum Duhallow Women’s Forum, established in 1997, represents a network of 17 women’s groups in Duhallow. It plays an important role in improving women’s quality of life in Duhallow including improving women’s access to education, training and personal development supports in preparation for accessing better quality employment, self –employment and improved social skills as well as supporting women’s advancement into decision making roles.

The forum also aims to identify, acknowledge and celebrate the role of women in Duhallow. We are committed to enhancing the capacity of locally based community groups to promote female participation.

Mary O’Keeffe of Beginners Corner Montessori who exhibited her business as part of the Newmarket Bank of Ireland Business Awards Competition. Eileen Linehan Assistant Manager IRD Duhallow who is also the Chairperson of Cork County Childcare Committee presenting the 2019 Duhallow Business Awards.

The forum is affiliated to the National Women’s Council of Ireland, which is an umbrella organisation for women’s groups in Ireland. This allows the Forum to link in and work with the NWCI in determining its core priorities and be involved in decision-making levels at local, national and international level.

PEIL Gender Equality Programme- Duhallow Work Opportunities for Women Programme Over the past 3 years, Duhallow Work Opportunities for Women Programme has provided a local, supportive and accessible approach to education and training supports for women seeking to upskill and return to the workforce. As well as being employment focused, this programme has supported women to increase their personal and social skills whilst giving them the opportunity to upskill by taking part in a series of training opportunities, both accredited and non-accredited. This has enhanced women’s access to employment by giving them a chance to learn new skills suitable to a variety of different careers, thus, helping them to find a new pathway in life. 210 women have been supported through Duhallow Work Opportunities for Women to date. Training such as SNA QQI Level 5, Intellectual Disability Studies QQI Level 5, Healthcare Support QQI Level 5, Personal Development are some of the comprehensive range of supports offered through this programme. The programme also offered women the option of one to one mentoring support and guidance which was useful for women returning to the workforce after a long absence. This project is co-funded by the Irish Government through the Department of Justice and Equality and the European Social Fund through the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.

Local childcare workers who are participating in our 1 year BA in Applied Early Childhood Education and Care in conjunction with Carlow IT

Equality for Women & Childcare

Mind Your Mind Seminar In February, IRD Duhallow Women’s Forum organised a seminar entitled ‘Mind Your Mind’. This motivational seminar, delivered by former Cork hurler Dessie Fitzgerald, provided the audience with techniques to increase their self-belief and positivity, inspiring attendees to make the most out of their lives and giving them tips to overcome their life challenges. Dessie openly spoke to the audience about how his world was turned upside-down over a period of 14 months where he tragically lost two brothers and suffered a freak accident that led to a life changing injury which left him paralysed from the shoulder down and confined to a wheelchair.

Dessie spoke about how he was lost, emotionally, physically and mentally and knew that he had to take action to come to terms with everything that had happened. Dessie is now able to walk using crutches and has devoted himself to helping others. Dessie left the audience with a key message of hope and told attendees “there’s always hope- be proud of who you are and everything you have overcome”. In order to “mind our minds it is important to accept where we are in life and move forward”.

Participant’s pictured at a Women for Change workshop on the topic of ‘Women in Politics’. Women for Change Project In May 2018, the National Women’s Council of Ireland together with nine organisations including IRD Duhallow’s Women’s Forum, were successful in receiving funding under the Wheel’s Training Links Fund Scheme, under funding through the Department of Education & Skills. IRD Duhallow hosted three workshops which included a workshop on Influencing Policy Change in January 2019, which covered how policy works and how we can influence it. The second workshop looked at Effective Committees and Negotiation Skills. In May, a Women and Local Elections workshop was held to explore the current issues for women in Duhallow prior to the Local and European elections. These workshops gave women in Duhallow an opportunity to learn skills in leadership, lobbying, campaigning and influencing policy. Following this project, the NWCI launched a resource for women’s groups and women working for social change and equality at local level Community Childcare Managers Network Established in 2015 our network plays a vital role in supporting managers of 30 early years and school aged childcare facilities across North Cork and East Kerry to network and share information. Together the managers bring a wealth of knowledge to the network with a mix of experienced and new managers learning from each other and advocating for various improvements in the sector. The network meets bi monthly and is cognisant of the need to upskill the sector to help retain staff. In 2019 in conjunction with Carlow IT a 1 year BA in Applied Early Childhood Education and Care was delivered though our Skillnet programme in Newmarket. This was the brainchild of the network who recognised the need for many experienced childcare workers to obtain their Level 7. Many local childcare managers and staff have also taken up on a variety of training also through this network. National Protest 2020 was a significant year for the childcare sector nationally with members from across the sector fighting back against years of poor

pay and conditions. On 5th February thousands of childcare workers including a significant representation from Duhallow took part in a national day of protest in Dublin calling on the government to resolve the issues of underfunding in the sector which has brought it to crisis point with many services unsustainable. More than 60% of childcare workers earn less than the living wage of €12.30 per hour while parents are paying some of the highest fees in Europe. Participating childcare workers in the protest were calling for an increase of funding to help reduce fees for parents, increase pay for educators to the living wage and a new funding model as well as improvements for a more streamlined inspection and compliance model. Concerns are also justified in the sector regarding the suggestions in the new programme for government to no longer have a Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to make way for a new Minister for Higher Education with fears the much needed investment into the childcare sector would not happen if put in under

a different department.

Childcare staff of Banteer Communtiy Childcare at the National Protest Day in Dublin. Impact of Covid As with most of the economy the global pandemic of coronavirus has hit this sector extremely hard with all early years and school aged childcares instructed to close from the 12th March. The closure of this sector showed now more than ever the important role childcare providers play in supporting working parents in particular mothers as well as being such significant employers themselves of women in part time and full time positions locally. Thankfully the DCYA put in place the Temporary Wage Subsidy scheme package for the wages of childcare facilities where those who registered their staff had their net wages covered jointly by Revenue and the DCYA which ensured staff weren’t lost to the sector as the loss of such experience and skills would have been devastating. Now as we are in the midst of the governments road to reopening the economy childcares have reopened. Strict guidelines are now in place which are proposing some significant changes for the way children will be cared for by being divided into ‘play pods’ to help reduce the risk of infection and aid contact tracing if required. From the vast experience in the sector parents locally will be reassured that childcares and school age services will put the care of the child first and be realistic and practical in how they restructure the running of their facilities but undoubtedly childcare settings won’t be as we have known them.