Eglinton’s Aspace2 and DEEDS (Dementia Engaged and Empowered Derry and Strabane) in Creggan were celebrating at the weekend as they received national recognition for their key role in the community.
Both organisations received runners up awards at the prestigious IPB Pride of Placer Awards which were announced in the Hillgrove Hotel in County Monaghan on Saturday night.
Aspace2, who support adults with additional needs in learning additional skills to allow them to fulfil their potential, received the runners up award in the Community Wellbeing Initiative category of the Main Competition.
DEEDS, a community based model of support for people living with dementia, their carers and families, finished runners up in the Community Wellbeing Initiative city category.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr, represented the Council area at the awards where she was joined by representatives of both organisations.
“I am so proud to see these two brilliant local initiatives recognised on the national stage,” she said.
“These awards rightly celebrate and recognise the selfless efforts of people to make their local neighbourhoods better places to live, work and socialise and these two projects embody that spirit.
“I appreciated the opportunity to spend the evening with their teams and acknowledge the key work they do to give people with additional needs the support and guidance they need to get the most out of life.”
The DEEDS Project has grown immensely over the last ten years thanks to the support from the National Lottery Community Fund.
From one single memory group based in Creggan it has expanded into an organisation that boasts six social groups, two activity groups, a choir, carers education, carers drop in, intergenerational work, connection to the community, large scale Dementia friendly events and trips, and a suite of training and education courses.
More recently it launched a pre-diagnosis programme in partnership with the Western Health and Social Care Trust, the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.
DEEDS offer members a chance to meet other people in a friendly and relaxed environment and in a weekly social group in their own community or join an activity group where they can take part in different activities, learn new skills or practice old ones.
Aspace2 is a Community Interest Company (CIC) and Aspace2 Multisensory Centre is a registered charity located in the rural community of Campsie.
The building at Aspace2 has been customised to an extremely high standard to meet the accessibility needs of all attending the centre.
The vision of Aspace2 is to provide a service that supports adults with additional needs to learn the skills necessary to live an independent, purposeful lifestyle and grow to make informed, fulfilling life choices in an age appropriate, respectful, and inclusive manner.
Training is user-led, trainees’ individual pathways are chosen to reflect their future learning and or employability choices.
Employability Training is offered in the catering school and factory floor coffee shop, retail training is offered in the Artspace shop and creative opportunities are provided in the art rooms and upcycling studio.
Aspace2 strives to nurture the potential of people with a disability to thrive in a socially inclusive society.
For further details of all the nominees for the Pride of Place Awards and to watch the awards back visit the Pride of Place Awards at: prideofplace.ie
Tags: