20 innovative organisations across the country providing vital community initiatives for people with disabilities will be awarded under a €3 million Rethink Ireland fund, it was announced today. The Disability Participation and Awareness Fund will support twenty projects across four key strands: enabling participation of people with Down Syndrome in their communities; supporting social enterprise driven employment for people with disabilities; increasing access to arts and culture; and fostering participation in sports and outdoor recreation as well as the promotion of accessible shared spaces.
Included among these 20 organisations are six Cork initiatives.
The Rethink Ireland Fund, in partnership with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, will address the urgent needs of people with disabilities, breaking down barriers that they face across a multitude of areas, supporting tangible additions to existing community organisations. Among the 20 non-profit organisations that will receive funding are Together Academy, which supports young adults with Down Syndrome with certified training, work experience and employment opportunities; the Notes & Signs project by Music & Health Ireland, for equity of access to live music performances and learning opportunities in the d/Deaf community; and the Embers project by Active Connections, engaging people living with a disability or neurodiverse diagnoses, safely in the outdoors.
Speaking on what this funding means for The Teens Project, Fiona Malone, Corporate Partnerships and Major Donor Manager, The Down Syndrome Centre said: "Receiving this award is a significant milestone for the Down Syndrome Centre. It enables the centre to provide crucial therapies to adolescents, which are essential for their development. The award is particularly important as it addresses the deficiency in support for children with Down syndrome when they reach the age of 10 and over. The Down Syndrome Centre is proud to be a recipient of this award, and we will continue to work towards providing the best possible care to children and adolescents with Down syndrome."
Speaking on what this funding means for Inclusive Dance, Cork, Kaylie Streit, Project Coordinator, Dance Cork Firkin Crane said: "This award means we can continue to provide inclusive dance opportunities to dance enthusiasts and professionals with and without disabilities. We are immensely grateful for this opportunity to grow and continue to foster dance experiences for all abilities."
Speaking on what this funding means for the Embers Project, Ray Burke, CEO, Active Connections said: "Having the backing and the support of Rethink Ireland and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, will allow Active Connections to scale the impact of our Ember Camp programme. With this support, we will increase the footprint of the service and, most importantly, support young people and their families."
Speaking on what this funding means for the The Crann Centre Accessible Play Recreation & Conservation Spaces, Pádraig Mallon, CEO, The Crann Centre said: "This award is hugely significant for all of us at the Crann Centre, especially the children, adults and families who use our services. It provides vital funds to support us in creating unique experiences for children, adults and families living with neuro-physical disabilities through our fully accessible playground & leisure space and our 20 acre fully accessible working conservation area. The mentorship and supports which come with it will help us to sustain and grow these initiatives."
Speaking on what this funding means for Notes & Signs, Gráinne Hope, Artistic Director, Music and Health Ireland said: "Embarking on the journey with Rethink Ireland's Disability Participation and Awareness Fund, our project is poised to redefine music accessibility. The acknowledgment received significantly furthers our undertaking, facilitating deeper community engagement, expanding relationships, and championing accessible live music experiences. This award underscores our commitment to building a musical world that is accessible and inclusive for all."
Speaking on what this funding means for Scotia Ireland, Liz Maher, Project Manager, AK Inspired said: "We are deeply grateful for the Disability Participation and Awareness funding. This fund will be instrumental in advancing our mission and expanding our impact. With this support, we can do even more to serve our community and create positive change. Together we will continue to reach new heights and make a difference in the lives of those we are dedicated to supporting."
Anne Rabbitte TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for Disability at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, commented: “For a long time, disability has been viewed purely as a ‘health’ issue, when in fact this is an equality issue. When I sought to establish the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund, I wanted to develop a support mechanism for the wonderful initiatives that I knew were happening around the country to support people with disabilities to have equal access in their communities. I knew there were exciting programmes there to uncover and these 20 diverse projects prove that. The awardees are focussed on equal access to things like the arts, culture, and outdoor recreation - things that most of us take for granted - and I know we’ll see amazing results and tangible change delivered.”
Deirdre Mortell, CEO, Rethink Ireland said: “I am delighted to announce that 20 non-profit organisations will be funded to provide support to people with disabilities in communities across Ireland. This increase in support has been targeted at projects which will build skills and remove barriers for people with disabilities, expanding their ability to take part in their communities. I am looking forward to seeing what impact these projects will have on the lives of so many.”
Non-profit organisations awarded under the fund include:
- Accredited Teens Project, The Down Syndrome Centre : The Down Syndrome Centre provides subsidised essential early intervention therapies from birth to 18 years, to over 350 families. The Teen Project is an innovative way to continue to support young people in reaching their full potential by accessing occupational and speech and language therapy, however, the model in which it is delivered is intrinsically motivating for the young person to want to attend, as it is set in a highly recreational manner with specific goals and objectives.
- Inclusive Dance Cork, Dance Cork Firkin Crane: Inclusive Dance Cork was created by Dance Cork Firkin Crane in collaboration with Suisha Arts: Cope Foundation, Cork ETB, and University College Cork. This inclusive dance training programme is the only accredited professional development opportunity of its kind in the Republic of Ireland. The programme is open to all individuals with and without disabilities and supports dancers and dance facilitators who believe in dance for all abilities.
- Embers, Active Connections: Active Connections CLG is Ireland’s leading outdoor intervention service. We transform lives through adventure. Each year we support hundreds of people to engage in outdoor therapeutic interventions that are positive for whole person wellbeing. In 2023 we will carry out over 24,000 contact hours with people experiencing emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. We do this in both a 1:1 and group based approach.
- The Crann Centre Accessible Play, Recreation & Conservation Spaces: At the Crann Centre we provide a range of unique services and supports for children, adults and families living with neuro-physical disabilities through our 2Gen approach. The 2Gen approach recognises that children and adults with disabilities live in families and for them to enjoy improved health & wellbeing and increased opportunities for participation in society the whole family needs to be supported. Through this project we will increase opportunities for children,adults and families to access outdoor play and recreation in a uniquely accessible playground and leisure space and an accessible working conservation area.
- Notes & Signs, Music & Health Ireland: Created by Music & Health Ireland, the Notes & Signs project was seeded over the last two years with the intention to be developed for, with, and by d/Deaf and Disabled people, alongside non-disabled people, all passionate about creating greater equity to access live music performances and learning opportunities. The Project Leadership team is unique and includes Deaf and Hearing Musicians, a Deaf person and a qualified ISL interpreter, and aims to grow the reach of live music performance and create resources and tools to support music education and capacity in music interpretation for deaf audiences.
- Scotia Project, AK Inspired: The Scotia Project was designed by Inspired’s Biodiversity Hub. Over a 12-month period the project aims to reconnect 30 people with intellectual disabilities to the land and environment through biodiversity driven training and skill development. We will empower each participant to explore learning and eco-friendly employment opportunities by taking a person-centred approach while actively engaging in 3 different biodiversity driven programmes. The Project is ambitious, but it spearheads a new and innovative pathway towards ensuring each participant has the opportunity to become an eco-learner, eco-preneurial business-owner, shareholder, and climate change maker, leveraged on individual and unique ability.
