Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry talking to service user Jade Kelly and Stephen Mathews, chief executive, Cedar Foundation, during a visit to the Cedar Foundation in Derry for a celebration event and open day to recognise their success in the North West. Photo: Lorcan Doherty Photography
The Cedar Foundation in Derry has been praised by Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry for its work for people with disabilities.
Dr Farry was speaking during a visit to a celebration event and open day to recognise the Foundation’s success.
The event, held in Cedar’s Springtown premises, celebrated the Foundation’s endeavours in delivering services to young people with disabilities, and their individual achievements in education, training, employment and involvement in the community.
Dr Farry said: “My Department has enjoyed a strong and positive working relationship with the Cedar Foundation and we are currently working in partnership with representatives from Cedar and other disability organisations on the development of a new employment strategy for disabled people in Northern Ireland.
“The Cedar Foundation is an innovative, forward thinking organisation, whose work and dedication is improving the lives, and specifically the employment prospects, of many people with a range of disabilities. They are to be congratulated on their achievements and today’s exhibition is testament to the life-changing work that they do.”
The open day included an exhibition of photographs and storyboards that told the experiences of young people with disabilities who participated on Cedar’s programmes.
Stephen Mathews, chief executive of Cedar, said the Foundation’s Vocational and Employability Service had made a “substantial impact” on the employability and inclusion of people with complex disabilities.
He added: “We are pleased to report that 70% of young people with disabilities completing their programme gain relevant qualifications and Cedar have helped 863 people with disabilities to work towards their goals since 2010.”
Tags:
