Pages 1 - 59 PDF

Rehab News
January 2006
Belle of
the Balls!
Inside
Bright Future for National
Learning Network:
Page 4
RehabCare to mark its
tenth anniversary:
Page 10
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The new Disability Act will have a fundamental
RehabCare is planning
impact on how services are delivered to people
a major calendar of
with disabilities in Ireland and Rehab is working
events under the
to ensure it is implemented to the best possible
banner of RC 10 to
effect
celebrate its tenth
anniversary in 2006
Take the passion and make it happen – that’s
the new catchphrase of RehabCare as the
countdown begins on a spectacular year of
activities and celebrations to mark its 10th
anniversary in 2006.
And already the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
has been enlisted to share the feeling – by
launching RC 10 with more than 500
RehabCare service users and staff at a glittering Day of Celebration in the Mansion
House on January 24th next.
A nationwide volunteering programme is
to be developed by RehabCare as a flagship
project of the year-long calendar of events
which also seeks to promote the abilities of
RehabCare service users and their value to
the life of their local community, as well as
raising RehabCare’s can-do profile locally
and nationally.
A national awards programme will also be
established to recognise the work and
achievements of RehabCare service users,
staff, volunteers and supporters in helping to
build the organisation over the last decade
and to help make it such a success
In addition, RehabCare will host a major
international conference on person centred
planning in Dublin early next summer,
whilst a plethora of local launches, fundraisers and sports events will also be held
around the country throughout the year.
Said RehabCare chief executive, Angela
Kerins: “There are many reasons for us
wanting to celebrate RehabCare’s tenth
birthday and the first is to say a really big
thank you to all of the staff, service users
and supporters who have shared in our success.
“But as well as marking the achievements, both individual and collective, of the
last decade, we want RC10 to help shape
how RehabCare will develop over the next
ten years and beyond. We deliver community based programmes and we feel it is
RehabCare chief executive, Angela
Kerins: “we want RC10 to help shape
how RehabCare will develop over the
next ten years and beyond.
What A Feeling!
10
important to involve communities in our
work through a thriving volunteer structure.
We also want to showcase the talents and
abilities of our service users to show more
people the huge contribution they can make
to community life.”
The volunteer programme aims to encourage a large number of people from all walks
of life to get involved in RehabCare centres
and activities countrywide. In addition to
volunteers with specific skills in areas such
as art and drama, RehabCare wants volun-
teers to participate in support work that
helps its clients to participate in the life of
their local communities. A host of local and
national celebrities are also being
approached to join the volunteering effort.
RehabCare is planning a major effort to
promote the volunteer programme and to
further increase awareness of the work of
the organisation in communities throughout
the country. To support this, RehabCare
community service managers are to undergo
dedicated media training, whilst it is also
hoped to run a roadshow to promote volunteerism and to bring the RehabCare message
to various parts of the country during 2006.
Meanwhile, the national awards scheme
will include separate awards, on both a local
and national basis, for achievements by
service users, staff members, businesses or
community organisations who have made a
contribution to the growth of RehabCare
asnd volunteers.
Fundraising events are expected to
include a national penalty shoot out competition where members of the public can pit
their wits against established players from
all codes.
And among research projects planned as
part of RC10 is a major piece of work to
gauge the impact of RehabCare on the lives
of the people who use its services.
RC10: RehabCare’s plans to
celebrate its tenth anniversary
in 2006
In June, the long awaited and much debated Disability Act 2005 was enacted, and we
moved onto a new stage in building the
future framework of how many of our public services will be delivered to people with
disabilities.
Over the coming months, six
Government Departments will consult
widely as they each develop their ‘Sectoral
Plan’, a plan that will outline how each
Department will provide services to people
with disabilities, according to specific criteria which is laid down in the Act. These
must be presented to the Oireachtas by the
end of June 2006. In the interim discussions and meetings with the disability sector will be held by each Department, to
finalise their plan and build on the draft
versions that they published last year at the
launch of the National Disability Strategy.
To date the entire process of developing
this legislative package has been conducted
by the Government in close consultation
with the disability sector, through a specially formed body, the Disability Legislation
Consultation Group or DLCG. This group
was established almost three years ago at
the request of the Government, to provide a
forum for consultation with disability
organisations on the content of future disability legislation. It is comprised of
umbrella organisations, which represent
hundreds of organisations in the disability
sector and many thousands of disabled people. This has been a particularly successful
example of collaboration; both between
government and the disability sector and
within the disability sector, which has had
tangible impact on the final legislation.
The process began in earnest in May
2003, when the DLCG position paper
Equal Citizens-Core Elements for
Disability Legislation was presented to
Government. Following this, the National
Disability Strategy including the Disability
Bill was published and the Government
continued to consult with the DLCG
throughout the passage of the legislation.
The DLCG was extremely vocal and its
lobbying was responsible both for several
key amendments to the legislation and the
significant commitment by An Taoiseach
that a system would be established where
An Taoiseach, Bertie
Ahern. The DLCG lobbying was responsible both
for several key amendments to the legislation
and the significant commitment by An Taoiseach
that a system would be
established where all
future cabinet proposals,
polices and legislation
would be assessed for
their impact on people
with disabilities.
List of those Departments
requiring sectoral Plans
The Dawning
of a New Era
all future cabinet proposals, polices and
legislation would be assessed for their
impact on people with disabilities. The
Rehab Group has been represented in this
process through our memberships of the
Not For Profit Business Association and
Disability Federation of Ireland, while
RehabCare is also a member of the
16
National Federation of Voluntary Bodies
Now it has been agreed with each of the
six departments that sub-groups of the
DLCG will work with each Department in
consulting on their sectoral plans. Various
Rehab Group staff members are involved
in the sub groups. Already, submissions
have been made through our umbrella bod-
Department of Communications,
Marine and Natural Resources
Department of Health and
Children
Department of Enterprise, Trade
and Employment
Department of Social and Family
Affairs
Department of Environment,
Heritage and Local Government
Department of Transport
services to people with disabilities is
expected to being its passage through the
Oireachtas shortly also.
At the launch last year of the National
Disability Strategy, the Taoiseach stated
that “the Government’s overall objective is
to put in place the most effective combination of legislation, policies, institutional
Meanwhile, provisions of the Act are
ies to the Departments of Environment,
arrangements and services to support and
reinforce equal participation for people
Heritage and Local Government, Health
already making themselves felt. The
National Disability Authority has prepared with disabilities”.
and Children and Transport, and work on
the others is ongoing.
a draft Code of Practice for public bodies
Rehab is working to ensure that this legMany of the plans require cooperation on in fulfilling their access obligations under islation is implemented to the full and the
the Act to make their services accessible,
development of policies and services are
specific actions by certain Government
Departments, and department officials are and this awaits approval from the Minister achieved, so that the best possible outcome
is realised for people with disabilities, their
working towards this goal. At Government for Justice Equality and Law Reform.
Many public bodies have been participating families and carers.
level, the work on the National Disability
in workshops on this theme recently.
Comments on any of the six sectoral
Strategy is being overseen by a working
plans would be most welcome and can be
group of senior officials and ultimately by
Another core piece of the Disability
the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion, Strategy, the Comhairle (Amendment) Bill forwarded to the Group’s Public Affairs
chaired by An Taoiseach.
which deals with the provision of advocacy Department in Roslyn Park.
Rehab is working to ensure the
Disability Act is implemented to
the best possible effect
4
The future is bright for National
Learning Network
17
Glenda goes online
for Rehab
6
RehabCare Welcomes Suicide
Prevention Strategy1
18
Rehab Recycle survey shows Irish
reprocessing more bottles and jars
10
RehabCare’s big plans to
celebrate its tenth anniversary
12
Presentation of Rehab Council’s
Innovation Awards
15
The new Rehab Great
Investment Race
16
The impact of the
Disability Act
18
Rehab’s National Excellence Awards
Success
21
Meeting Matt Browne: The Ultimate
FUNdraiser
24
Workability International: the rise of
a global organisation
Rehab News
Editor
Chris Macey: 01 2057311
Assistant Editor
Dara Duffy: 01 2057268
Acknowledgements
Sportsfile; Gary Moyles;
Photocall Ireland; Joe Tierney
Contributors
Aoife O'Connell, Cliodhna O'Neill,
Gillian Giles,
Jacqueline Johnston-Fagan,
Carrie Keane-Ryan
Design: Sean Mannion
Copyright to the material in
Rehab News is reserved.
ISBN IFFN 0709/6676
Printed by Turner Printers,
Longford
The views expressed in Rehab
News are not necessarily those
of the Rehab Group. Whilst
every effort is made to ensure
accuracy of information published in Rehab News, the publishers can accept no liability.
Tim Harden: Portrait of an artist:
Page 28
3
Rehab News
Contents
24
Rehab News
Rehab News
25
28
Rehab News
Rehab News
29
Workability
International world
The biggest TV
president Frank
audience for years
Flannery writes about
the rapid rise of what
is now a global
organisation dedicated
in the workplace for
people with
disabilities
Workers of the
World Unite
All of this represents remarkable progress
in the blueprint we have set out to become
the global force representing providers of
work and employment services to people
with disabilities. Over the next few years
our regional groups need to apply themselves to the search for new members in
parts of the developing world where the sys-
24
good honoured at the
ESB/Rehab People of
tems and services our members have built
up over many years have the potential to
deliver massive social dividends. Particular
efforts need to be made to develop the
organisation across Africa, Central and
South America and the Middle East. We
should also aim to be represented more
heavily Eastern Europe and to carry the
the Year Awards
Already much is happening within various regional groups in this business to business arena. Workability Europe has developed a purchasing consortium among its
members that has already had in-depth discussions with so of the world’s largest multinationals such as Microsoft, Dell and
Hewlett Packard on areas such as software
licencing and discounted purchasing. The
Workability
Electronic
Recycling
Partnership has also been established to
enable members to capitalise on an EU
directive which makes manufacturers
responsible for the disposal of electrical and
electronic waste. Meanwhile in the US, document destruction networks are being developed by member organisations as well as cooperation on contracts to dismantle old computers and recover parts for multinational
organisation, but also the scope of its activi- manufacturers.
ties and therefore its benefits to its memberNow is the time to raise the bar on all of
ship. Our considerable success to date in
this activity, so that as well as continuing to
achieving global reach means that the time
has now arrived for Workability provide the supports that come from memInternational to broaden its focus so that it bership of a representative body, we also
can help its members throughout the world provide the benefits that being part of a gento capitalise on transnational and global uinely international business organisation
business opportunities.
can bring.
Up to now, organisations like ours have
Already our members provide work and
existed to protect their members interests employment services to two million people
and to help them gain political influence on
with disabilities. By developing as a busian international level, as well as acting as a
Workability International world
valuable means to exchange expertise and to ness organisation that is capable to dealing
president Frank Flannery
develop best practice. But globalisation has with the world’s largest companies across
Workability banner into more Asian coun- provided a more tangible reason for the best national and even Continental boundaries,
ties, especially China.
and the biggest organisations in our field to we can create work and employment opportunities for people with disabilities on a
Of course our development plans don’t band together.
merely involve increasing the size of the
The challenge we must set ourselves in huge scale throughout the world.
An armchair army of almost half a million people tuned in to RTE’s live broadcast of the ESB/Rehab People of the Year
Awards as Terry Wogan was named as
Ireland’s Greatest Living Entertainer.
The Limerick-born radio and TV star
received the award at a ceremony hosted by
Gay Byrne in City West Hotel for his outstanding contribution to broadcasting and
light entertainment during a career spanning five decades.
Terry’s citation said that he was chosen
for the award in recognition of his “outstanding contribution to broadcasting and
light entertainment over many years and for
his role as a great ambassador for Ireland”.
Meanwhile, Bob Geldof was chosen as
the International Person of the Year for his
extraordinary campaign to make poverty
history and for once again raising the
world’s consciousness through Live 8 concerts in 10 cities across the world of the
problems facing the developing world.
The Irish Person of the Year Award was
awarded jointly to Bridgeen Hagans and
the McCartney sisters - Gemma, Paula,
Donna, Catherine and Claire - for their
courage, dignity and perseverance in seeking justice for Robert McCartney in the
face of a protracted campaign of intimidation following his murder outside a Belfast
bar.
And the Young Irish Person of the Year
was another joint award toNeil Burke,
Anthony Maine and Donal Mooney repcontinued next page
President’s tribute to
National Learning
Network graduates
28
Tim Harden’s journey
from archaeologist to artist
30
Volunteers sought for
Thailand and Vietnam
adventure
43
David Ward’s marathon
achievement
44
Bulletin Board
44
31
32
The ESB/Rehab People of
the Year Awards
38
UK News: Charlie
Charms Chaseley; Haven
success; New brain injury
handbook
Rehab News
Rehab News
Launch of In Print
Art Exhibition
An exhibition based on a groundbreaking arts programme in the
Midlands that has helped people
with mental health difficulties to
get their lives back on track was
launched this summer.
Participants of the innovative
Turas Programme at National
Learning Network Athlone were
among the 23 local artists with
disabilities who showcased their
many creative talents at the ‘In
Print’ art exhibition, which was
officially launched by RTE
Correspondent, Ciaran Mullooly
at Athlone Castle.
Kevin Gardner,
Martin Slevin,
Austin Gavin, AnnMarie Crehan and
Gina Reynolds
enjoying the sights
of Venice on
National Learning
Network Athlone’s
trip to Northern
Italy last
September.
Congratulations to National Learning Network Tullamore, as they scooped top prize
for Best Business Premises in this year’s Tullamore Credit Union Tidy Towns
Competition. Pictured at the awards presentation are (Back row, left to right) Adrian
Stewart, regional manager, National Learning Network, Tullamore; Michael Davis,
chairman, Tullamore Credit Union; and Carthage Larkin, Rosemary White, Mary
McNamara, and Majella Dolan, all from National Learning Network, Tullamore. (Front
row, left to right) Cllr Tommy McKeigue, chairman, Tullamore Town Council; Pat
Mooney, National Learning Network, Tullamore; Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen,
T.D., and Peter Ormond. chairman of Offaly County Council.
The exhibition, which formed
part of National Learning
Network’s
innovative
‘Arts
Reach’ programme, featured the
artwork of service users from
National Learning Network
Athlone and the Springfield
Centre in Mullingar.
UK News
Charlie Charms
Chaseley
Sue Wyatt, chief executive, The Chaseley Trust (pictured on left) with
Mitch Kerry, chairman of The Friends of Chaseley, and Simone, Kate,
Wendy, Debbie and Martin of the Activities team. The Activities Team
were named winners of Chaseley’s Department of the Year 2005.
Mediability
Programme magazine
Grapevine
Magazine of Rehab’s Mediability Programme
January 2006
ii
iv
At Debt’s Door:
David Gomm;
How’s the form? Jim
Murray
Trip to Lake
Garda
An intrepid group of fifteen
adventurers, including service
users from National Learning
Network Athlone, set off last
September to explore the beautiful resort of Riva, nestled on the
shore of Lake Garda in Northern
Italy. The week-long trip was part
of a unique joint venture between
the centre’s Turas programme
and the local Mental Health
Services. The action-packed itinerary included visiting Juliet’s
Balcony in Verona, ascending
the Dolomites in a cable car,
touring Lake Garda by ferry, taking a gondola through the canals
of Venice, and enjoying the spectacular scenery and sunny
weather on a bike ride to Torbola.
Tullamore Art
Exhibition
Visitors to Tullamore County
Library earlier this summer were
able to peruse more than just the
bookshelves, as the library host-
v
Prescription for
Fun! Domhnall
Bruic on Paul Newman’s
Barretstown Castle
continued next page
52
Jacqueline JohnstonFagan’s film debut
54
Win €100 in our double
crossword competition
55
Tribute: Tom O’Reilly
– A Man of Action
56
Rehab’s new
Intranet
58
Gillian Giles takes part in
the Tall Ships Race
Helen Barrow (centre) and Noel Chilton from Chaseley receive the award as the MS Society’s ‘Preferred
Provider’ from Sarah Phillips, Chairperson of the MS Society.
HRH The Prince of Wales was just one of
many high-profile artists to exhibit at a stunning new art exhibition which took place
earlier this year at the Chaseley Trust in
Eastbourne.
The exhibition included over 100 paintings and drawings - the work of
professional and amateur artists,
including many of Chaseley residents.
Art is a popular hobby for
many at Chaseley, and this community venture not only
strengthened links with the local
arts community, but it also provided some real inspiration to
explore new media, methods and
subjects.
The Art Exhibition was just
one of many highlights that took
place over the busy summer
months for the residents of
Chaseley.
In August, the RAF’s elite Falcons
Parachute Display Team took time out from
their hectic 40th Anniversary schedule to
pay a visit to residents and staff at Chaseley
during Eastbourne’s annual Airborne
Spectacular.
August also saw Chaseley’s Garden Club
awarded a silver medal in the annual
Eastbourne in Bloom competition, under the
communal gardens category. The Award
A bumper TV audience tuned in
to the ESB/Rehab People of the
Year Awards.
Editorial; ‘My
Battle with Bulimia’
Jennifer Banks
‘Celebrity You’re a Star’ winner and ‘Fair City’ actor, David Mitchell, joined students
from Dominican Convent, Griffith Avenue to launch the annual RehabCare Bear Week
last October. The fundraising week, which is sponsored by ESB Customer Supply,
aims to raise €1.3 million over three years for the development of RehabCare centre
based respite and resource centre services in locations throughout Ireland.
Bonanza
Draw
Recipients of the
2005 ESB/Rehab
People of the Year
Awards pictured
with the presenter of the show,
Gay Byrne.
Absolutely Fabulous!
32
Frank Flannery on the rise of an
organisation seeking equality in
the workplace.
26
38
Ireland’s great and
By pooling our expertise and developing
our business to business capability, we can
capitalise on business opportunities on a
scale that is currently beyond any one of our
member organisations. We can also use our
joint purchasing power with to gain significant savings for us all.
to the cause of equality
Workability International’s spectacular
growth rate continued unabated throughout
the last 12 months as the quest continued to
establish a truly global organisation championing the right to work of people with disabilities.
Membership passed the 100 mark for the
first time during our annual conference in
Edinburgh, up from a total of just 60 the previous year. Because this includes a large
number of umbrella bodies representing
similar service providers and direct employers, the full extent of the Workability network now extends to more than 2,000
organisations, representing some two million workers in 31 countries around the
world.
Most of this growth has been achieved in
Oceania which already has the largest membership of all Workability’s regional groups
within a year of being established in New
Zealand in October 2004. Having come into
existence with just four members,
Workability Oceania now comprises 30
organisations, including ACROD – the
national industry body for service providers
in Australia, which represents more than 550
members and VASS, its equivalent organisation in New Zealand. Meanwhile
Workability Asia’s progress has also been
extremely pleasing, with four substantial
new members joining during the last 12
months, whilst another important landmark
was the signing up of our first member in
Africa.
tuned in to see
the years ahead is that as well as being a representative body in the traditional sense,
Workability International evolves into a
genuine international business organisation
that becomes a valuable part of the strategic
development of each of its member organisations.
vi
Bullying goes on:
Mary Healy
investigates its effects on
mental health
vii
David Quinn
looks at ASBOs
and questions whether they
are necessary or an
infringement of human
rights
viii
Jim Murray
speaks to a
recovering heroin addict
❝ I was six stone and no one
bullied me anymore ❞
Jennifer Banks speaks about her struggle with
the eating disorder bulimia
x
Pat Hallinan talks to
Mary Healy about
how his life changed after
a car accident and his
hopes for the future
xi
Confessions of a
Bad Prognosis:
Sean Richardson on the
social lives of disabled
people in the past
xii
Jennifer Banks
speaks to
Commandant Shane Fahy
about his experiences with
street children in
Afghanistan
4
Rehab News
The future is bright for National Learning
Network as it embarks on a major period of
development that will result in a significant
broadening both of its client base and the
programmes it offers
Network Development
The National Learning Network has been
given the green light for an ambitious five
year strategic development plan including
the establishment of a new Institute of
Higher Education.
Ground-breaking programmes will also
be launched serving a broad spectrum of
marginalised groups under the blueprint
which covers the period up to the end of
2010.
Overall it is projected that there will be
significant growth both in the depth and
breath of services offered in coming years
following the implementation of the new
initiatives, while combined numbers in
vocational and rehabilitative training at centres around the country will also move
above the 2,500 mark.
“We have enjoyed unrivalled success over
a period of many years in delivering lifechanging programmes to people with disabilities,” said National Learning Network’s
acting chief executive, Joe O’Brien. “Today
we can boast a progression rate of 85 per
cent of those completing their programmes
moving into jobs, or higher education and
training. That compares very favourably
with any other programmes that are available.”
“But now, as part of the process of becoming a mainstream provider of education,
training and employment access programmes, we want our successful services
and systems to make a difference to more
people across a wider range of social need in
Ireland.”
According to director of business development, Jane Forman, the setting up of the
new Institute of Higher Education signals a
serious move by National Learning Network
into adult and continuing learning where the
focus is on providing training to those who
work with people with disabilities, rather
than just disabled people themselves.
The Institute is due to be operational by
next Spring and during 2006 will deliver
three day continuous professional development modules to some 270 people. Initially
there will be eight modules on offer:
Introduction to Mental Health; Specific
Learning Disabilities (SPLDs); Skills for
Trainers; Assessment Practice; Managing
SPLD in the Classroom Environment;
Boundary Management; QA in the Training
Centre; and Mental Health Advocacy –
Communication with Service Users.
It is envisaged that once the initiative is
up and running, it will be possible to offer
FETAC certified programmes by combining
modules, whilst depending on the success of
the Institute degree courses could be
offered.
Said Ms Forman: “At present this is a virtual Institute – it has no physical home. This
might change in time, but we have to learn
to walk before we can run, to build on expe-
Below: Minister
for Finance,
Brian Cowen TD,
at the official
launch of
National
Learning
Network with
Joe O’Brien,
acting chief
executive,
National
Learning
Network.
Rehab News
5
rience and to build expertise organically.
Additionally, the current arrangements
enable us to deliver courses where the
demand is, anywhere in Ireland.”
Meanwhile, a range of new project initiatives is being developed in many areas of
unmet need. These include: new mental
health programmes; supports to FÁS centres; workshops and apprentices; the extension of services offered by BUA in the area
of specific learning disabilities; the training
of trainers; disability support services; the
development of assessment services; and
multi-cultural and diversity training, as well
as the utilisation of centres outside normal
hours.
One new programme that’s about to get
underway is called Home Focus - a service
that will help people with mental health difficulties to lead more independent lives and
to access their communities better, as well as
improving their health and social well being.
Funded by the Department of Justice
Equality and Law Reform to the tune of
€378,000 and delivered in people’s own
homes, the service is a partnership between
National Learning Network and West Cork
Mental Health Services, the Institute of
Mental Health Recovery, the Guidance
Services of the HSE, West Cork Community
Partnership and Workstart West Cork.
In addition to the huge work that has gone
into the development of new projects,
National Learning Network has undergone a
major re-branding programme which resulted in a change of name from NTDI to better
reflect the organisation in the future. This,
along with a fresh new look for the organisation, reflected in signage currently being
rolled out nationwide, will have a significant
impact on how the organisation is viewed,
according to Mr O’Brien.
“National Learning Network is in great
shape – both in terms of its people and its
programmes – to have a bigger impact than
ever on the lives of people at the margins of
Irish society,” he declared.
“We will continue to develop world class
services for our core client group with the
help of our partners, particularly in FÁS and
the HSE. But we will also be able to widen
this client base both within the world of disability and for people in other areas, such as
recovering drug users and victims of brain
injury.
“In addition, we will help to further professionalise service delivery in the disability
sector and beyond through training programmes for those working with people
with disabilities and with other socially disadvantaged groups.”
6
Rehab News
Former US President Bill Clinton pictured delivering the keynote address at the RehabCare Gala Banquet
to raise funds for suicide prevention
RehabCare Welcomes Suicide
Prevention Strategy
National Strategy for
Action on Suicide
Prevention ‘single
most important
initiative ever relating
to suicide prevention’
RehabCare has welcomed the Government’s
National Strategy for Action on Suicide
Prevention as the single most important initiative ever relating to suicide prevention in
Ireland.
The organisation – which has enlisted the
support of former US President Bill Clinton
in its suicide prevention campaign – will
now concentrate its resources on helping to
deliver on the aims of the Strategy.
RehabCare chief executive Angela Kerins
said the Strategy represented a strong framework for action to tackle the escalating suicide crisis among young people in Ireland.
“This plan is action focused and it provides a genuine role for any group or organisation which is working to remove the pain
that suicide is bringing to communities
throughout Ireland.
“The response from all of these disparate
stakeholders must now be to end the fragmentation which has hindered efforts to
develop a co-ordinated national strategy by
all groups working together in consultation
with the National Office for Suicide
Prevention.”
Ms Kerins said she particularly welcomed
the integrated approach to tackling suicide,
as evidenced by specific proposals for liaison between Government Departments. It
was also crucial that the Government has
recognised the necessity for the allocation of
more realistic funding to suicide prevention.
“This Strategy contains many of the
responses that we have been advocating for
a long time and we congratulate all those
involved. Now we must all start delivering
real results for vulnerable young people.”
Rehab News
Top Irish model, Glenda Gilson celebrates
the launch of Ireland’s first online bingo site,
www.rehabbingo.com
Glenda Goes Online
for Rehab
Top model Glenda Gilson is fronting an
ambitious bid by Rehab Lotteries to break in
to the €150 million global online bingo business.
The Dublin beauty is the face of Ireland’s
first online bingo site, RehabBingo.com,
which aims to attract players from as far
apart as the US and Japan to help finance
Rehab’s community based training, education, employment and social care services.
Glenda, whose glamorous relationship
with Irish rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll
continues to fill the nation’s gossip columns,
has also participated in a major promotion
with the Irish Daily Star to kickstart the new
site.
Irish internet users - particularly young
women - and regular visitors to the hundreds
of traditional bingo halls around the country
are particularly being targeted by the Rehab
Lotteries initiative which aims to raise €1
million over the next five years.
Said Rehab Lotteries managing director,
Dr John McGuire: “Bingo has always been
a hugely popular method of charity
fundraising in Ireland and we believe that
the online version of the game can become a
major contributor to developing Rehab services throughout Ireland.
“It is estimated that more than five million people play online bingo around the
world each day and just capturing a fraction
of that market, on top of those playing in
Ireland, would make this a very
successful enterprise.”
Dr McGuire added that
around three quarters of
regular online bingo
players at present are
women despite the fact
that up to now they
had
very
little
involvement in an
online gaming market which is now
worth €2 billion a
year in Ireland
alone. Studies
also show that
where online
bingo is concerned, the
main motivation for
playing is
entertainment as
opposed
to gambling.
“Revenue
from our bingo site
will enable Rehab to keep
developing new services that
keep pace with the changing
needs and wishes of the people who use our services.”
7
8
Rehab News
Rehab Recycle’s latest
survey reveals further
rapid improvement
among the Irish public
in reprocessing their
bottles and jars
A record 50,000 tonnes of glass from Irish
households has been recycled in the last
year - enough bottles and jars when placed
end to end to circle the entire globe.
A new survey reveals that the huge
deposits - which total 162.5 million individual glass containers - were collected in
Rehab Recycle bottle banks around the
country in the last 12 months. This marks
an increase of 20 per cent on the previous
highest deposits recorded in 2004. Rehab
Recycle is responsible for 90 per cent of
domestic glass recycling in Ireland.
Compiled as part of Repak’s National
Recycling Week, the study also shows the
people of Cork are again the country’s best
recyclers with deposits of some 50 bottles
and jars for each man woman and child in
county already in 2005. Next best is
Galway with an average of 44 items of
glass recycled per person, followed by
Leitrim on 43.
The largest increase in glass recycling
came in County Cavan - up by 45 per cent
to 511 tonnes of glass, followed by
Limerick where figures rose by 38 per cent.
The bring bank at the Tesco shopping centre in Bray once again claimed the honour
of being Ireland’s busiest bring site with
deposits during the first eight months of the
year, totalling a staggering 1,037,000 bottles and jars.
“These returns represent an extraordinary
effort to recycle by most Irish people,” said
Rehab Recycle general manager, Bob
Rowat. “Put in perspective, if you laid
down all of the bottles and jars we collected over the last 12 months end to end, they
would stretch around the world with plenty
to spare.
“Over the years there has been plenty of
criticism of the public’s lack of involvement in recycling and of the unnecessary
damage this is causing to the environment.
These figures show the tide has well and
Top of the Glass
truly turned. However we must not let up
in getting the message across to people in
every town and village in the country of
the crucial importance of recycling, not just
for our own quality of life, but for future
generations as well.”
Mr. Andrew Hetherington, CEO, Repak,
said: “In addition to the huge success of
glass recycling we are on target to meet our
2005 EU recycling target of 50 per cent of
all used packaging. The challenge to
increase this rate will heavily depend on
householders digging deeper into their bins
to stop more recyclable packaging going to
landfill. During this year’s Repak
Recycling week we are congratulating
established household recyclers and
9
Rehab News
Area
Bray UDC
Jan-Aug
2005
Increase
Rank
%
Bottles
(000’s)
Bottles
Bottles per
Rank
Rank
per head
household
Busiest Site
Tons
Bottles
(000s)
Tesco Bray
319
1037
Tesco Cavan
64
208
1 Ballincollig Times Square 282
917
330
5
511
45
1
1661
29
Cork
6,949
36
4
22,581
50
Dublin
9,088
18
29,536
26
Galway
2,826
23
9,185
44
Kildare
1,641
37
5,333
33
Kilkenny
950
25
3,088
38
4
121
Leitrim
339
15
1,102
43
3
121
Limerick City
475
38
1,544
29
81
Louth
1,033
28
3,357
33
100
Blackrock
79
257
Mayo
992
13
3,224
27
82
Ballina Landfill Site
90
293
1,169
22
3,799
28
91
Navan Civic Amenity Centre
212
689
Monaghan
480
30
1,560
30
93
Monaghan UDC Car Park
72
234
Roscommon
549
17
1,784
33
98
Roscommon Civic Amenity 70
228
Sligo
636
14
2,067
35
105
1,541
19
5,008
36
(Wicklow)
Cavan
Meath
Tipperary
encouraging new recyclers by distributing
50,000 recycling bags in conjunction with
Rehab.”
With over 1,800 bring sites nationwide,
Rehab Recycle is responsible for 90 per
cent of Ireland’s bottle bank network and
currently reprocesses over 50,000 tonnes of
glass a year – representing 162 million
individual bottles and jars. The company,
which also recycles large quantities of
cans, cardboard, paper, and waste electronic and electrical equipment, is part of a
unique integrated employment model and
has a workforce of 105 people, 58 of whom
are people with disabilities.
1073
3
2
5
91
1
152
78
2
139
Oscar Traynor Road
245
796
2 Westside Shopping Centre 181
588
106
5
107
Tesco Naas
230
748
3
Loughboy Shopping Centre
179
582
3
Carrick-on-Shannon
48
156
Roxboro Shopping Centre 79
257
Grange
5
52
169
Thurles Parnell Street 113
367
10
Rehab News
RehabCare is planning
a major calendar of
events under the
banner of RC10 to
celebrate its tenth
anniversary in 2006
Take the passion and make it happen – that’s
the new catchphrase of RehabCare as the
countdown begins on a spectacular year of
activities and celebrations to mark its 10th
anniversary in 2006.
And already the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
has been enlisted to share the feeling – by
launching RC10 with more than 500
RehabCare service users and staff at a glittering Day of Celebration in the Mansion
House on January 24th next.
A nationwide volunteering programme is
to be developed by RehabCare as a flagship
project of the year-long calendar of events
which also seeks to promote the abilities of
RehabCare service users and their value to
the life of their local community, as well as
raising RehabCare’s can-do profile locally
and nationally.
A national awards programme will also be
established to recognise the work and
achievements of RehabCare service users,
staff, volunteers and supporters in helping to
build the organisation over the last decade
and to help make it such a success
In addition, RehabCare will host a major
international conference on person centred
planning in Dublin early next summer,
whilst a plethora of local launches, fundraisers and sports events will also be held
around the country throughout the year.
Said RehabCare chief executive, Angela
Kerins: “There are many reasons for us
wanting to celebrate RehabCare’s tenth
birthday and the first is to say a really big
thank you to all of the staff, service users
and supporters who have shared in our success.
“But as well as marking the achievements, both individual and collective, of the
last decade, we want RC10 to help shape
how RehabCare will develop over the next
ten years and beyond. We deliver community based programmes and we feel it is
What A Feeling!
Rehab News
11
RehabCare chief executive,
Angela Kerins: “We want RC10 to
help shape how RehabCare will
develop over the next ten years
and beyond.”
important to involve communities in our
work through a thriving volunteer structure.
We also want to showcase the talents and
abilities of our service users to show more
people the huge contribution they can make
to community life.”
The volunteer programme aims to encourage a large number of people from all walks
of life to get involved in RehabCare centres
and activities countrywide. In addition to
volunteers with specific skills in areas such
as art and drama, RehabCare wants people
to be involved in support work that helps its
clients to participate in the life of their local
communities. A host of local and national
celebrities are also being approached to join
the volunteering effort.
RehabCare is planning a major effort to
promote the volunteer programme and to
further increase awareness of the work of
the organisation in communities throughout
the country. To support this, community
service managers are to undergo dedicated
media training, whilst it is also hoped to run
a roadshow to promote volunteerism and to
bring the RehabCare message to various
parts of the country during 2006.
Meanwhile, the national awards scheme
will include separate awards, on both a local
and national basis, for the contribution of
service users, staff members, businesses or
community organisations who have made a
contribution to the growth of RehabCare.
Fundraising events are expected to
include a national penalty shoot out competition where members of the public can pit
their wits against established players from
all codes.
And among research projects planned as
part of RC10 is a major piece of work to
gauge the impact of RehabCare on the lives
of the people who use its services.
12
Rehab News
Imaginative, inventive, ingenious – that’s
Rehab staff as the recent presentation of
Rehab Council’s Innovation Awards proved
An advocacy programme with a difference,
a novel awards scheme, a TV series about
disability and a sense and stimulus garden –
these are just some of the groundbreaking
projects from across the Group that have
won recognition through the Rehab Council
Innovation Awards.
And with a record 50 entries from centres
and services throughout Ireland, England
and Scotland for the awards, there’s no
doubt that when it comes to being pioneering and inventive, Rehab is still up there
with the best of them.
Given the wide scope and high quality of
the entries, the judges had an unenviable
task in selecting the four winning and five
highly commended entries.
Gandon Enterprises Access Ability
scooped first prize in the National Award
category for their innovative and comprehensive Assessment Process which was created, designed and implemented specifically
for the O2 Ability Awards - Ireland’s first
business awards recognising and celebrating
best practice in the employment of people
with disabilities.
Progressive policies on employing people
with disabilities, or providing an accessible
workplace, haven’t traditionally been high
on the corporate agenda – a fact reflected in
the latest statistics from the National
Disability Authority, which state that 75 per
cent of people with disabilities are unemployed in Ireland. However, this situation
may soon begin to change thanks to the
prestigious O2 Ability Award scheme, of
which Gandon Enterprises Access Ability
are strategic partners.
The unique assessment process, designed
and implemented by Access Ability,
includes several stages and addresses all
aspects in the employment of people with
disabilities such as environmental accessibility, policies, procedures and attitudes.
Under the assessment process, teams of
trained assessors, all experts on managing
disability in the workplace, travel the country visiting workplaces and talking to management and staff in order to ascertain the
companies’ preparedness for disabled
employees and customers. Access Ability
also manage the judging process, which
includes two panels of highly distinguished
adjudicators, including many well-known
names from the disability and business
Rehab’s
Cutting
Edge
communities. Following the success of last
year’s inaugural awards, the assessment
process for the 2006 O2 Ability Awards is
well underway. The winners will be
announced at a glittering televised ceremony in early February 2006.
Second prize in the National Award category
went
to
Rehab
Group’s
Communications Department for initiating
‘Three 60’, the highly acclaimed RTE television series which deals with disability
issues.
In addition to promoting the work of the
Rehab Group part of the Communication
Department’s brief is to promote positive
images of people with disabilities generally.
The gathering was told that the success of
Three 60, which recently completed it’s second series on RTE, was based on “its ability
to make important issues surrounding
First prize in the Local Award category at the
Rehab Council Innovation Awards went to
National Learning Network’s Peer Support and
Education programme. Pictured (left to right)
Frank Flannery, chief executive, Rehab Group;
Dr Mary Boylan, National Learning Network;
Liam Hogan, chairman, Rehab Council, Brenda
Crowley, mental health resource officer, HSE
Southern Region; and Dr Donal McAnaney,
director of Research, Innovation and Business
Excellence, Rehab Group.
Rehab News
13
Right: Jimmy
Donner and
Laurence Byrne
accepted a Highly
Commended Award
on behalf of NRAC’s
national committee
for the NRAC Policy
Awareness Project.
Left: Delegates at
the Innovation
awards ceremony
getting first hand
experience of the
innovative methods
used at RehabCare
Dundalk, as drama
co-ordinator, Sandy
Sneddon and service users from the
centre,
demonstrate their
drama techniques
on a group of
unsuspecting
volunteers!
disability of interest and concern to a wide
television audience, just by looking at them
in a different and sometimes more thoughtprovoking way.”
First prize in the Local Award category
went to National Learning Network’s Peer
Support and Education programme, an innovative pilot community-based programme
for young people in Midleton, Co Cork. The
programme focused on teaching skills that
would enable participants to listen and find
appropriate services for their peers who may
be experiencing difficulties and displaying
suicidal tendencies. As a result of the programme, young people feel empowered to
make a difference in the lives of others who
may be experiencing difficulties and may
need support.
Other award winners on the day included
Momentum’s Let’s Go service, which won
the second prize in the Local Award category. The Let’s Go service offers respite and
short breaks to adults with learning disabilities in Glasgow. Unlike traditional respite
services which tend to be centre-based and
can often be inflexible, the Lets Go service
is a flexible, person-centered and goal
focused service which works with individuals to develop life skills, social confidence
and greater independence.
In addition to the four award winners, five
projects were highly commended by the
judges. These included The Chaseley Trust’s
Sense and Stimulus Garden Project, which
continued next page
14
Rehab News
Rehab Council chairman, Liam Hogan, pictured with Ian Elliott of Access Ability and Ashley Balbirnie,
chief executive, Gandon Enterprises. Access Ability won first prize in the National category of the
Innovation Awards.
was designed to engage Chaseley’s severely
physically disabled service users into the
outside garden space at the home. According
to Chaseley volunteer, Graham Broom, the
project was a huge success, with many of
the residents discovering hidden talents and
green fingers! In the first year that they
entered the competition, members of
Chaseley’s Garden Club won a silver medal
in the annual Eastbourne in Bloom competition.
NRAC’s
‘Making
Changes: An
Introduction to Policy Making’ project was
highly commended by the judges for providing NRAC members with the necessary
skills to communicate, contribute and negotiate with policymaking bodies in order to
ensure that services meet their needs, into
the future. Other highly commended projects included National Learning Network’s
BUA Centre which received recognition for
the ‘PACTS’ project, an Interreg EU funded
project that seeks to look at ways of supporting adults with specific learning difficulties
in the East of Ireland and West Wales areas.
Also recognised at the awards was
National Learning Network Bray’s
‘Empowering
People
with
Visual
Impairment’. Recognising a gap in the market, staff and service users at National
Learning Network Bray developed specific
courseware to enable a visually impaired
person to complete European Computer
Driving Licence (ECDL).
Finally, staff and service users at
RehabCare Dundalk were highly commended for their programme ‘Making Sense of
the Charter of Rights’. This innovation
comes from the service users at RehabCare
Dundalk themselves, and seeks to make
their own rights and responsibilities clear to
them, using a variety of techniques including an interactive workbook, drama shows
Right: Leonie
Lynch and
Kathleen Kyle,
both from the
Department of
Research,
Innovation and
Business
Excellence,
pictured at the
Rehab Council
Innovation
Awards.
Chaseley volunteer, Graham
Broom, accepts a Highly
Commended Award on behalf
of Chaseley Trust’s Sense and
Sensory Stimulus Garden
Project.
and workshops, and even a picnic quiz
which tested service users’ knowledge.
Delegates at the Innovation awards ceremony even got first hand experience of the
innovative methods used at RehabCare
Dundalk, as Drama Co-ordinator, Sandy
Sneddon, and service users from the centre,
demonstrated their drama techniques on a
group of unsuspecting volunteers!
Further details on the awards and this
year’s winners are available from Kathleen
Kyle, Rehab Council Secretariat. Email:
[email protected]
Rehab News
15
Launching the fourth Rehab Great Investment Race were Ryan Tubridy (centre) with Seamus Magner,
Irish Life Investment Managers; Roy Asher; Hibernian Investment Managers; Richard Dunn, Oppenheim
Investment Managers; Chris Reilly, Bank of Ireland Asset Management; Lance Graham, AIB Investment
Managers; Gary Connolly, Setanta Asset Management.
And They’re Off….
The race is on! Six of Ireland’s top investment management companies lined up,
under the watchful eye of official race
starter RTE’s Ryan Tubridy, at the launch of
the fourth Rehab Great Investment Race last
November. This year’s race includes six of
Ireland’s top investment companies, among
them Bank of Ireland Asset Management
(BIAM), who are the team to beat having
emerged victorious for the past two years
running.
Devised and organised by Rehab
Lotteries, the Rehab Great Investment Race
has, since its inception in 2001, raised a
staggering €520,000 for autistic children
and their families in Ireland. Through ‘bull’
and ‘bear’ markets, global catastrophes and
economic uncertainty, the thoroughbreds of
Ireland’s fund managers have given selflessly of their time and expertise to support an
extremely worthwhile cause.
At the launch of the fourth Rehab Great
Investment race, each of the six race participants were presented with a cheque for
€100,000 to invest as they wish in the stock
market. The fund managers need to use all
their skill and experience to outwit each
other, and the markets, in an effort to raise as
much money as possible for RehabCare’s
autism respite services nationwide.
With less than two months to go in last
At the presentation to the winning team (from left) Joe Treacy, chairman, Rehab Group; Minister for Health, Mary Harney TD, and Chris
Reilly, Bank of Ireland Asset Management.
year’s race, it had looked as though a photo
finish was inevitable - only seven thousand
euros separated the top five teams.
However, a strong performance by BIAM in
the final month of trading ensured that they
repeated their 2004 victory and emerged
once again as clear winners of the Rehab
Great Investment Race. BIAM’s monthly
gain of 9.6 per cent in May meant that it
achieved an increase of 47.8 per cent for the
year, a remarkable achievement.
The overall profit from last year’s race
was €152,661 - representing a very impres-
sive 22 per cent gain on an initial investment
allocation of €700,000. In addition to
BIAM, participants in this year’s race
includes AIB Investment Managers; Irish
Life Investment Managers; Montgomery
Oppenheim; Setanta Asset Management,
and Hibernian Investment Managers, winners of the very first investment race.
You can keep track of how the teams are
performing in the monthly column that
appears in the business pages of the Irish
Times.
16
Rehab News
The new Disability Act will have a fundamental
impact on how services are delivered to people
with disabilities in Ireland and Rehab is working
to ensure it is implemented to the best possible
effect
In June, the long awaited and much debated Disability Act 2005 was enacted, and we
moved onto a new stage in building the
future framework of how many of our public services will be delivered to people with
disabilities.
Over the coming months, six
Government Departments will consult
widely as they each develop their ‘Sectoral
Plan’, a plan that will outline how each
Department will provide services to people
with disabilities, according to specific criteria which is laid down in the Act. These
must be presented to the Oireachtas by the
end of June 2006. In the interim, discussions and meetings with the disability sector will be held by each Department, to
finalise their plan and build on the draft
versions that they published last year at the
launch of the National Disability Strategy.
To date the entire process of developing
this legislative package has been conducted
by the Government in close consultation
with the disability sector, through a specially formed body, the Disability Legislation
Consultation Group or DLCG. This group
was established almost three years ago at
the request of the Government, to provide a
forum for consultation with disability
organisations on the content of future disability legislation. It comprises umbrella
organisations, which represent hundreds of
organisations in the disability sector and
many thousands of disabled people. This
has been a particularly successful example
of collaboration; both between government
and the disability sector and within the disability sector, which has had tangible
impact on the final legislation.
The process began in earnest in May
2003, when the DLCG position paper
Equal Citizens-Core Elements for
Disability Legislation was presented to
Government. Following this, the National
Disability Strategy including the Disability
Bill was published and the Government
continued to consult with the DLCG
throughout the passage of the legislation.
The DLCG was extremely vocal and its
lobbying was responsible both for key
amendments to the legislation and the significant commitment by An Taoiseach that
a system would be established where all
An Taoiseach, Bertie
Ahern. The DLCG lobbying
was responsible both for
several key amendments
to the legislation and the
significant commitment by
An Taoiseach that a system would be established
where all future cabinet
proposals, polices and legislation would be assessed
for their impact on people
with disabilities.
The Dawning
of a New Era
future cabinet proposals, polices and legislation would be assessed for their impact
on people with disabilities. The Rehab
Group has been represented in this process
through our memberships of the Not For
Profit Business Association and Disability
Federation of Ireland, while RehabCare is
also a member of the National Federation
of Voluntary Bodies. Now it has been
agreed with each of the six departments
that sub-groups of the DLCG will work
with each Department in consulting on
their sectoral plans. Various Rehab Group
staff members are involved in the sub
groups. Already, submissions have been
made through our umbrella
Rehab News
17
List of Government Departments
requiring sectoral Plans
Department of Communications,
Marine and Natural Resources
Department of Health and
Children
Department of Enterprise, Trade
and Employment
Department of Social and Family
Affairs
Department of Environment,
Heritage and Local Government
Department of Transport
bodies to the Departments of Environment,
Heritage and Local Government, Health
and Children and Transport, and work on
the others is ongoing.
Many of the plans require cooperation on
specific actions by certain Government
Departments, and department officials are
working towards this goal. At Government
level, the work on the National Disability
Strategy is being overseen by a working
group of senior officials and ultimately by
the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion,
chaired by An Taoiseach.
Meanwhile, provisions of the Act are
already making themselves felt. The
National Disability Authority has prepared
a draft Code of Practice for public bodies
in fulfilling their access obligations under
the Act to make their services accessible,
and this awaits approval from the Minister
for Justice Equality and Law Reform.
Many public bodies have been participating
in workshops on this theme recently.
Another core piece of the Disability
Strategy, the Comhairle (Amendment) Bill
which deals with the provision of advocacy
services to people with disabilities is
expected to being its passage through the
Oireachtas shortly also.
At the launch last year of the National
Disability Strategy, the Taoiseach stated
that “the Government’s overall objective is
to put in place the most effective combination of legislation, policies, institutional
arrangements and services to support and
reinforce equal participation for people
with disabilities”.
Rehab is working to ensure that this legislation is implemented to the full and the
development of policies and services is
achieved, so that the best possible outcome
is realised for people with disabilities, their
families and carers.
Comments on any of the six sectoral
plans would be most welcome and can be
forwarded to the Group’s Public Affairs
Department in Roslyn Park.
18
Rehab News
Rehab is developing an
enviable reputation for
Business Excellence
thanks to the
Group-wide
commitment to its
Excellence at Work
programme
Rehab boasted a staggering six finalists at
the National Excellence Awards where
RehabCare beat off the challenge of
Ireland’s biggest and best companies to
land the overall national Committed to
Excellence award.
In addition, National Learning Network,
Rehab Lotteries, Rehab Foundation,
Research Innovation and Business
Excellence and Rehab Group itself all overcame stiff competition to receive nominations in various categories.
The awards, held in Dublin by the
Excellence Ireland Quality Association,
capped a breakthrough year for Rehab’s
Excellence at Work programme, with virtually all Group companies and divisions
now having achieved EFQM Committed to
Excellence accreditation.
Speaking after the awards, which were
attended by some 1,000 guests from
Ireland’s most successful companies,
RehabCare chief executive, Angela Kerins
said: “It was a great honour to accept the
overall National Committed to Excellence
Award on behalf of the whole staff team in
RehabCare and all those who access our
services. Our mission as an organisation is
to provide excellent services – the EFQM
Award won’t do that for us – but it will
confirm to us that we are doing our job
Angela Kerins,
chief executive,
RehabCare,
pictured receiving
the overall National
Committed to
Excellence Award
from Paul O’Grady,
managing director,
Excellence Ireland
Quality Association
(EIQA). Also
pictured is Laura
Keane, general
manager South and
Mid-West,
RehabCare.
Best of the Best
well and also help us to identify areas for
improvement.
“As we go forward on our mission of
excellence, this award allows us to reflect
on and be proud of what we have achieved.
Most importantly, it further motivates us to
continue to strive for excellence and we are
just about to undergo assessment for further EFQM accreditation under the Levels
of Excellence scheme and, ultimately, the
European Recognised for Excellence
award. The concept of continuous improvement is now firmly ingrained in everything
we do.”
Joe O’Brien, acting chief executive,
National Learning Network also articulated
a similar point of view: “The importance of
the EFQM Excellence Model to National
Learning Network cannot be understated.
It is the driving force behind the vision to
be a leader in promoting equality in
employment access, thus enabling National
Learning Network to deliver high quality,
flexible and responsive training, employment and education access programmes
that promote equal participation in society
for people who experience exclusion.
National Learning Network continues to
strive for Best Practice in everything it
does by establishing continuous improvement systems and processes throughout the
entire organisation.
“Achieving EFQM Excellence accreditation is a significant achievement for the
organisation. It gives formal public recognition to the high quality services being
delivered in each of the centres around the
country. It reflects most positively on the
quality of service being delivered to service-users nationwide and is a source of
great pride. This is the second step (of
four) towards the achievement of EFQM
Rehab News
19
Recognised for Excellence status. National
Learning Network is confident that it will
achieve this, with the rest of the Rehab
Group and looks forward to the continuing
delivery of services recognised for their
excellence.”
The Rehab Group progress towards
Recognised For Excellence status to date
reads thus:
European and national accreditation
for Excellence 2004/5
Rehab Lotteries, RehabCare, Rehab
Foundation, National Learning Network,
The Chaseley Trust and Department of
Research Innovation & Business
Excellence and Rehab Group Services
Excellence Through People/Investors in
People progressed to date
RehabCare, National Network Learning,
Gandon Enterprises, Rehab Lotteries,
Momentum, Rehab UK and Research
continued next page
Pictured at the presentation last September of the Excellence Ireland Quality Association (EIQA) Index of
Excellence Award to National Learning Network was (left to right) Philip Byrne, director, Accreditation,
Standards and Supports, National Learning Network; Paul O’Grady, managing director, EIQA; Joe O’Brien,
acting chief executive, National Learning Network; Frank Flannery, chief executive, Rehab Group; Michael
Crowley, Accreditation and Health and Safety manager, National Learning Network.
20
Rehab News
Innovation & Business Excellence
European Quality in Rehabilitation
Mark
RehabCare, National Learning Network,
Research Innovation & Business
Excellence
ISO 9000/2001 international standard
Gandon Enterprises, TBG Learning
ISO 1385/2003
Gandon Enterprises
European and national accreditation for
Excellence 2006
Gandon Enterprises, Momentum Scotland,
TBG Learning and Rehab UK
Said Group chief executive, Frank
Flannery: “There is no doubt that we have
made substantial progress and that our levels of knowledge and understanding of the
Business Excellence Model, as a tool for
continuous improvement, has grown considerably. Also the substructures which we
put in place across the Group – such as the
Groupwide Business Excellence Strategic
Team (BEST), Excellence Development
Team (EDT), local Business Excellence
Teams (BETs) and our Business Excellence
Support Services – have become increasingly effective.”
Like any other organisation operating in
a competitive environment, the perpetual
Brendan Coyle, Rehab Group
EFQM excellence manager.
challenge facing Rehab is to maintain a
framework which ensures that the changing
demands of its service users and customers
are continually met.
It is this necessity that prompted the
organisation to adopt the European
Foundation Quality Management (EFQM)
excellence model, which is now well
advanced in all Group companies and divisions under the banner of Excellence at
Work.
The model is essentially a management
tool to help organisations achieve sustained
service or product improvement and
growth. “It assists organisations to develop
business management systems that provide
a practical structure for measuring where
they are on the path to excellence, identify
the gaps and develop effective solutions,”
said Mr Flannery.
“Already, the Excellence Model has
achieved astounding results in helping a
wide variety of organisations internationally to achieve sustained improvement and
growth to their products and services and
because the Model is non-prescriptive,
Rehab can put a greater emphasis on “people” results than would be the case for an
organisation whose overriding aim is financial profit.”
Case studies show that it has resulted in
significant improvements in staff morale
resulting in greater levels of job satisfaction, productivity and lower staff turnover.
This obviously impacts greatly on the
results achieved by service users.
Added Mr Flannery: “We must aspire to
be the best in the world at what we do and
the Excellence Model provides us with the
framework to make that happen.”
And Next…
The next phase of the implementation
plan, which commences in 2006 will focus
on managers beginning to use the
Excellence Model routinely as a management and continuous improvement tool.
This will involve:
• Self Assessments completed and integrated into 2007 Business Plans
• All managers and staff having improvement goals in their business objectives
• Key Performance Indicators and targets
identified, agreed and implemented –
also matched to RG Strategic Plan
• Targets, Trending and Benchmarking
measures initiated
• Further development of Rehab Group
expertise
• Award Submission Simulation Pilot
commencement – one company
Rehab News
21
Rehab Foundation’s Matt Browne pictured last July as he set off on his JetSki Challenge across the Irish Sea. The marathon 250 mile round trip raised
€30,000 for Rehab.
The Ultimate FUNdraiser
From sheep steeple chasing to
daredevil jet ski rides across
the Irish Sea, Matt Browne’s
fundraising exploits are
legendary around Ireland.
Aoife O’Connell discovers that
even after losing a leg through
illness, his passion for helping
others remains undimmed
Fancy something a bit different this weekend? Try reversing a bus around Ireland,
pushing a bog barrow nearly 3,000 miles or
perhaps jet skiing around the Irish coast?
You could always race sheep around
Kildare or stage an all male beauty pageant, but could you do it on one leg? Matt
Browne can.
Founder of the Irish Wheelchair Centre
in North Kildare and Kildare Person of the
Year 1989, Matt Browne has organised
way-out fundraising events that those with
two feet on terra firma would never
attempt, but its all in a day’s work for this
Kildare man.
As a child Matt vividly remembers trying
to push his father’s wheelchair to watch a
football match in an effort to cheer up his
house bound father; a neighbour stopped
the ten-year-old Matt and asked; “How is
he?” nodding to his father. “You can ask
him yourself!” came the sharp reply..
Chronically aware of the lack of facilities
and social outlets for disabled people, Matt
never imagined that one day he might also
be in a wheelchair. The injustice of his
father’s treatment stayed with him and he
knew there was more to be done than
“wheeling people around in a circle on a
dance floor or taking them on a day trip”.
Matt started with 50 volunteers and in
1982 pushed a bog barrow of turf from
Clane to Killarney 176 miles, the barrow
continued for another 2,500 miles and three
years fundraising with one well wisher
dropping money in the barrow for the
“Irish Wheelbarrow Association”!
Devising a ten-year plan for the development of key disability facilities Matt organised a ‘bus reverse’, coffee mornings, and
American Tea Parties and in 1990 he and
his team raised £50,000 through People in
Need and established The Wheelchair
Centre in North Kildare.
An entertainer for over 30 years. Matt
gigged around the country lending his
wacky ideas and sense of humour to good
causes. As Matt admits he smoked, drank
and partied hard. In 1990 he was diagnosed with type 2 diabeties: “I’m a diabetic, so what!” was Matt’s reaction and he
continued to drink and smoke. Matt developed pains in his leg and put it down to a
back problem resulting from lifting work
and an operation was arranged to ease the
continued next page
22
Rehab News
pain. The night before the operation Matt
asked his surgeon “to have a quick look at
that foot of mine” which had been oddly
cold and a tiny black spot had appeared on
his small toe.
There was to be no back operation for
Matt, he had a chronic circulation problem
related to his diabeties, Matt’s foot was literally dying. In 1999 a 16-hour operation
resulted in internal stitches and 650 metal
clamps to hold plastic veins in place to
restore blood to his foot. Declared a huge
success, the results lasted three weeks and
Matt’s foot turned black.
Matt ignored the doctors when they told
him his leg would be amputated until finally the surgeon told him; “you will beg me
to cut it off”, and on New Year’s day 2000
Matt called his surgeon in agony begging
him to cut the foot off; “if I could have got
my hands on a hatchet I would have
chopped it off…the pain was like fifty knitting needles stabbing my foot every four
seconds, it was horrific.”
His foot started to rot; “I can still smell
it.” Pleading with doctors for more morphine, Matt told them: “if you don’t get me
more I’ll go out on the streets and get some
lad to give me heroin.” You’re on more
than any of those lads, came the reply.
Now with one leg and in a wheelchair,
Matt also had to cope with withdrawals
from cigarettes, alcohol, sleeping tablets
and morphine. After unbearable night
sweats, nausea, and sleepless nights, doctors told Matt he had become a morphine
addict and his doses had to be reduced
slowly over six months.
Adjusting to life in a wheelchair Matt
recalls: “that first night I came home I must
have fallen 15 times.” He found he was
something for “every child” to poke fun
at… “I know now what it’s like to be a
monkey in a cage”. With no wheelchair
accessibility at home, Matt strove for independent living and pulled himself up steps
or hobbled on crutches wherever possible.
A local Traveller family, whom Matt has
been kind to in the past, tried to rebuild
Matt’s independence and clubbed together
and bought him an old automatic car.
After six months Matt was fitted with a
prosthetic leg and “being able to stand up
and shave myself again” made the world of
difference to Matt, but he needed to get
back working. Matt jokes: “A three-legged
man wasn’t in big demand.” Friend,
Vincent Kelly of National Learning
Network told Matt to “work to his
strengths” and as it happened they were
looking for a fundraiser in Kildare. He’s
never looked back since describing his
work as definitely “not nine to five…its not
about me, I’ll never make money out of
Rehab News
23
Above far left: Matt Browne,
Rehab Foundation, pictured at
the launch of Ireland's first ever
Sheep Steeplechase Race Day
with 'Ewe Bet!' the racing sheep
and two-year old Cian Leigh from
Kildare.
Above left: ‘Fast Fleece’ comes
over the last fence ahead of ‘Baa
Ram U’ to go on and win the big
race at Ireland’s first ever sheep
races in Kildare last August. Over
5,000 people turned up for the
event which was organised by
Matt Browne and raised a staggering €30,000 for Rehab
Foundation and the Conor Leigh
Fund.
Left: Enjoying all the fun of the
fair at Ireland’s first ever Sheep
Steeplechase Race Day.
this but the pleasure I’ve got out of this job
over the years, money could never pay for
that.”
Every year Matt brings a people with
disabilities on inspirational fundraising
trips all around the world from Brazil to
Boston. His most recent challenge was
‘Sheep Steeple-chasing’ which raised funds
to send four-year-old Conor Leigh to
America for special medical treatment.
Born with only one ear, Conor’s treatment
was due to cost thousands and in true Matt
style, he got behind the cause and organised the first Sheep Steeple chasing in
Ireland. With over fifty sheep and 150 volunteers they raised over €30,000 on the
day.
Matt firmly believes that things have
improved since he was a ten-year-old boy
trying to make life better for his disabled
father, who remains the inspiration for his
work; “I’d like to give what he didn’t
have.” He believes a lot good has been
done in the disability sector that people
often ignore. “A lot has happened in thirty
years… a fool can knock a wall but it takes
a good man or woman to build a wall.”
From Sheep-Steeple chasing to who knows
what next, but one thing is sure, if Matt is
involved, it’s going to be different!
24
Rehab News
Workability
International world
president Frank
Flannery on the rapid
rise of what
is now a global
organisation dedicated
to the cause of equality
in the workplace for
people with
disabilities
Workability International’s spectacular
growth rate continued unabated throughout
the last 12 months as the quest continued to
establish a truly global organisation championing the right to work of people with disabilities.
Membership passed the 100 mark for the
first time during our annual conference in
Edinburgh, up from a total of just 60 the previous year. Because this includes a large
number of umbrella bodies representing
similar service providers and direct employers, the full extent of the Workability network now extends to more than 2,000
organisations, representing some two million workers in 31 countries around the
world.
Most of this growth has been achieved in
Oceania which already has the largest membership of all Workability’s regional groups
within a year of being established in New
Zealand in October 2004. Having come into
existence with just four members,
Workability Oceania now comprises 30
organisations, including ACROD – the
national industry body for service providers
in Australia, which represents more than 550
members and VASS, its equivalent organisation in New Zealand. Meanwhile
Workability Asia’s progress has also been
extremely pleasing, with four substantial
new members joining during the last 12
months, whilst another important landmark
was the signing up of our first member in
Africa.
Workers of the
World Unite
All of this represents remarkable progress
in the blueprint we have set out to become
the global force representing providers of
work and employment services to people
with disabilities. Over the next few years
our regional groups need to apply themselves to the search for new members in
parts of the developing world where the sys-
tems and services our members have built
up over many years have the potential to
deliver massive social dividends. Particular
efforts need to be made to develop the
organisation across Africa, Central and
South America and the Middle East. We
should also aim to be represented more
heavily in Eastern Europe and to carry the
Rehab News
Workability International world
president Frank Flannery
Workability banner into more Asian counties, especially China. Of course our development plans don’t merely involve increasing the size of the organisation, but also the
scope of its activities and therefore its benefits to its membership. Our considerable
success to date in achieving global reach
means that the time has now arrived for
Workability International to broaden its
focus so that it can help its members
throughout the world to capitalise on
transnational and global business opportunities.
Up to now, organisations like ours have
existed to protect their members’ interests
and to help them gain political influence on
an international level, as well as acting as a
valuable means to exchange expertise and to
develop best practice. But globalisation has
provided a more tangible reason for the best
and the biggest organisations in our field to
band together.
The challenge we must set ourselves in
25
the years ahead is that as well as being a representative body in the traditional sense,
Workability International evolves into a
genuine international business organisation
that becomes a valuable part of the strategic
development of each of its member organisations.
By pooling our expertise and developing
our business to business capability, we can
capitalise on business opportunities on a
scale that is currently beyond any one of our
member organisations. We can also use our
joint purchasing power to gain significant
savings for us all.
Already much is happening within various regional groups in this business to business arena. Workability Europe has developed a purchasing consortium among its
members that has already had in-depth discussions with so of the world’s largest multinationals such as Microsoft, Dell and
Hewlett Packard on areas such as software
licencing and discounted purchasing. The
Workability
Electronic
Recycling
Partnership has also been established to
enable members to capitalise on an EU
directive which makes manufacturers
responsible for the disposal of electrical and
electronic waste. Meanwhile in the US, document destruction networks are being developed by member organisations as well as cooperation on contracts to dismantle old computers and recover parts for multinational
manufacturers.
Now is the time to raise the bar on all of
this activity, so that as well as continuing to
provide the supports that come from membership of a representative body, we also
provide the benefits that being part of a genuinely international business organisation
can bring.
Already our members provide work and
employment services to two million people
with disabilities. By developing as a business organisation that is capable of dealing
with the world’s largest companies across
national and even Continental boundaries,
we can create work and employment opportunities for people with disabilities on a
huge scale throughout the world.
26
Rehab News
President Mary
McAleese paid a
glowing tribute to
National Learning
Network graduates
on a recent visit to
Bantry
It was “a bright and shining day, when the
sun shines down on achievement and opportunity and ability,” said Mary McAleese,
President of Ireland, as she addressed a large
crowd of well wishers who had gathered at
National Learning Network Bantry last
summer to welcome the President and her
husband, Dr. Martin McAleese, on their
official visit to the centre.
The sun certainly shone on the crowd,
which included trainees and staff of
National Learning Network Bantry; the
Mayor of Cork County, Cllr PJ Sheehan, and
Mayor of Bantry Cllr Letty Burke; along
with representatives of FÁS and members of
the Health Services Executive. Families of
trainees and representatives of businesses
who have contact with the centre were also
in attendance as the President expressed her
pleasure at being in Bantry for such a special
occasion.
Following a tour of the centre’s new
extension and photographs in the recently
completed garden centre, which had been
designed by trainees and staff, the President
spoke to the assembly of her delight in sharing the graduation day with the graduates
and their families.
Eighty-two people had received FETAC
awards in Horticulture, Literacy, Numeracy,
Art, Work Orientation and Personal
Development as well as the European
Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) earlier
that day from Cllr Letty Baker, Mayor of
Bantry.
Congratulating the trainees, the President
said that the certificates were a symbol of
Shining Through
what they had achieved. “These certificates
say a lot about who you are. They say that
you are a person worthy of enormous
respect, who has worked hard. They show
not only the subjects which you have studied hard and achieved good marks in and
mastered, but also a strength of character
and of ability,” she said, before leading the
crowd in a round of applause for the graduates, and wishing those leaving the centre
well in their futures.
President McAleese’s visit also marked
the official launch of the National Learning
Network name in West Cork. The President
spoke of her appreciation of the work that
National Learning Network does in West
Cork and throughout Ireland. She paid tribute to the organisation and its staff for their
determination in ensuring that people have
“a place and a space to blossom and to show
what they are capable of” before they go out
into the world to meet its challenges.
The President unveiled a plaque to
declare the new extension and garden centre
officially open, enlisting the help of a young
member of the crowd who enthusiastically
counted down with her.
Rehab News
27
Following her address, President
McAleese was presented with a book of
short stories written by trainees of National
Learning Network. A Bantry bay rose,
grown by trainees in the garden centre, was
also presented to the President by Bridget
Hayes, the Chairperson of National
Learning Network’s student representative
organisation, the N.R.C.
As part of her tour of the centre, President
McAleese viewed the ‘Illuminations’ and
Clonakilty Focus art exhibitions both of
which were on display at the centre. The
exhibitions showcased the many creative
talents of National Learning Network students from the West Cork region and nationwide, including a piece by former Bantry
student, Sean Healy, who was a finalist in
the prestigious nationwide ‘Illuminations’
competition. Praising the creativity and talent expressed in the exhibition, President
McAleese warned the audience not to miss
it!
Above left: President
Mary McAleese and her
husband, Dr Martin
McAleese, pictured
enjoying the West Cork
sunshine with new found
friends at National
Learning Network
Bantry. During her visit
to the centre, the
President officially
opened the centre’s new
extension and garden
centre (picture left).
28
Rehab News
For anybody who has ever dreamed of packing in their career
and pursuing a life in the arts, Roslyn Park College graduate,
Tim Harden’s story is an inspiration. Here he tells Rehab
News of his journey from archaeologist to artist, and his
delight at securing a place to study Fine Arts in the
prestigious National College of Art and Design
Portrait of an Artist
After graduating with a degree in Irish and
Greek and Roman Civilisation from UCD,
Tim Harden embarked on a career as an
archaeologist, working on a number of
excavation sites in Germany and France,
before returning to Ireland to work on the
controversial Carrickmines site in Dublin.
But throughout this period, Tim had a
sense that his chosen career was perhaps not
for him. “I began to get the feeling that
something was lacking. I wasn’t fulfilled in
what I was doing.”
A brief stint in hospital reaffirmed these
feelings, and a psychologist suggested that
Tim should look at National Learning
Network’s Roslyn Park College. In 2002,
Tim enrolled in the college’s ‘College Start’
programme and quickly settled into student
life at Roslyn Park College. He particularly
enjoyed the flexibility and freedom that the
college offers its students.
“With school and university you are
restricted with set hours and timetables, but
Roslyn Park College offers students much
more flexibility. Importance is placed on
students timetabling their own day with subjects and activities that they enjoy.”
Having successfully completed the
‘College Start’, Tim progressed to the
Foundation Level 3 programme, and it was
while he was on this course that he began to
avail of art classes that were offered to all
students in the college.
“I had never taken any art classes before,
but within two or three lessons I had discovered that I could draw. The art instructors at
Roslyn Park College – Paula Metcalf and
Paula Erraught - were extremely supportive,
in fact they spotted my talent before I even
recognised it myself.
With their encouragement, I joined the
college’s Artlink Programme in March
2003. Finally, I had found something that I
loved doing, and something that I was good
at. From the beginning I had a sense that
this is it, this is what I’m looking for.”
According to Tim, learning to be creative
and to have fun with his considerable artistic talent was a battle.
“During my time in school and college, I
was always taught that there was only one
right way of learning. At Roslyn Park
College, I was encouraged to embrace a new
way of working. The college’s Artlink programme places a big emphasis on creating
and developing an individual’s personal
style. It is so different from what I experienced in school and university. I have
learned that there is no set or ‘right’ way of
doing things. I have learned how to let go, to
expand my horizons, and to have fun with
my art.
“Art has made a huge difference to how I
feel about myself. I have grown in confidence so much, and there is a real sense of
achievement in creating an artistic piece and
seeing it on show.”
Tim’s talent was quickly recognised
Tim Harden
discovered his
artistic talent
while studying
at National
Learning
Network’s
Roslyn Park
College. Tim
recently
graduated from
Roslyn Park
College and is
currently
studying for a
Fine Art degree
in the National
College of Art
and Design.
Rehab News
29
within Roslyn Park College and he was one
of a group of students commissioned to do a
large ‘Nature Panel’ for the college canteen.
The highly intricate plaster cast panel features scenes of Irish birds and wildlife.
According to Tim, his art has helped him
develop a stronger connection with nature,
something that he is passionate about. In
fact his portfolio, for which he was awarded
straight distinctions by FETAC, featured
many drawings and artistic pieces based
around nature. Given his obvious talent, and
the quality of his work, it was hardly surprising that Tim was offered a place at not
only at the National College of Art and
Design (NCAD), but also at DIT and Dun
Laoghaire College of Art.
Tim is now half way through his first year
studying for a Fine Art Degree in NCAD. It
is ‘a dream come true’ for the young artist,
and one which he admits would not have
been possible without the support of staff
and his classmates at Roslyn Park College.
“Through art, I have regained my confidence. I have learned how to have fun again
and to see the world with fresh eyes. I really feel like I was given a second chance at
Roslyn Park College, and I was sad to leave.
However, having been given such a wonderful opportunity, I’m determined to make the
very most of it.
“Thanks to my experiences at Roslyn
Park College I no longer feel daunted about
the future – I feel like I have something to
offer and I’m determined to make my
mark!”
30
Rehab News
Eastern Promise
Fancy a taste of the Orient? Rehab
Foundation are looking for volunteers to
join them on an unforgettable adventure - as
they explore two beautiful and exotic countries - Thailand and Vietnam - in March
2006.
Rehab walkers will spend eleven glorious
days exploring the many delights that these
charming and picturesque countries have to
offer. The trek begins in the bustling Thai
city of Bangkok, where walkers will spend
two days visiting the sights of the city,
including the magnificent Grand Palace and
the Wat Phra Kaeo, the holiest Buddhist site
in the country and home to the Emerald
Buddha. Walkers will also have plenty of
time to shop for bargains in the city’s
colourful shops and markets, including the
world-famous Damnern Saduak Floating
Market in the Ratchburi province. Outside
the bustle of the city, a stunning landscape
of limestone mountains, hidden coves,
sandy beaches and uninhabited islands
await as trekkers visit Thailand’s first
Coastal National Park -‘The Three Hundred
Peaks Park’ - home to a large number of
exotic and endangered plants, animals and
birds.
The inhabitants of Kareng village near the
Burmese border continue to live a lifestyle
immersed in ancient traditions. Little has
changed for the hill tribe villagers in the 200
years since the village was first settled.
Rehab Foundation trekkers will be given a
wonderful opportunity to visit the hill tribe
village, which is nestled in the jungle close
to the magnificent Pala-u Waterfall, and see
how villagers live.
The beautiful and historic Vietnamese
city of Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) is the final
destination on the Rehab Foundation trek.
Here, trekkers will experience a day trip to
the Mekong Delta, as well as visit the
renowned Cu Chi tunnels which offer a
wonderful insight into the experience of
Vietnamese guerrilla fighters during the
long struggle for independence.
This eleven-day trip of a lifetime to
Thailand and Vietnam will take place in
March 2006 and participants are asked to
raise €4,500 in sponsorship. To join Rehab
on this once in a lifetime adventure and
sample all the delights that these ever-surprising countries have to offer, contact
Kevin Bourke, Rehab Foundation,
telephone: 087 2439748 or e-mail:
[email protected]
Grapevine
Magazine of Rehab’s Mediability Programme
January 2006
❝ I was six stone and no one
bullied me anymore ❞
Jennifer Banks speaks about her struggle with
the eating disorder bulimia
ii
Grapevine
Grapevine
Magazine of Rehab’s Mediability Programme
January 2006
❝ I was six stone and no one
bullied me anymore ❞
Jennifer Banks speaks about her struggle with
the eating disorder bulimia
Grapevine
Editorial
We’re back! And we’re becoming more
visible by the day. In response to the
hugely positive feedback the last issue of
Grapevine attracted, the graduates of the
Mediability programme have compiled a
collection of reports and articles focusing
on social and political issues.
Our lead story is a frank and powerful
account of journalist Jennifer Bank’s own
battle with the eating disorder bulimia.
With evidence that eating disorders are
becoming increasingly prevalent in
society, groups and organisations working
in the area of anorexia and bulimia are
calling for greater awareness and education about eating and body image generally.
Children and young people have been
high on the political agenda recently.
Reflecting the importance and pressing
need to tackle youth-focused issues, articles on topics including bullying and young
people in debt are featured in this issue.
Also included is a humorous look at
the burgeoning social life of a young disabled man and a collection of stories
about how non-disabled people view disability. I believe this issue of Grapevine
magazine, offers a wide and varied insight
into some of the important issues facing
Irish society today. If you have any ideas
or comments on the magazine content or
would like to contact any of the journalists featured, please feel free to get in
touch with me at the email address
below.
Jacqueline Johnston-Fagan
Editor
[email protected]
In a powerful and frank account, Jennifer Banks speaks
about her struggle with the eating disorder bulimia.
She outlines what triggered her battle with food and
self-image and the steps she took in her recovery
My Battle
with
Bulimia
E
very day, death
became more
and more
appealing to
me. From the
age of five I was
relentlessly bullied for being
heavy. I had to
run a daily
gauntlet to and from school.To say I hated
myself was an understatement. Thoughts
of suicide filled my mind but I was too
afraid to kill myself.The priests used to say
you went to hell for taking your own life
and at twelve years old I believed them. I
already lived in hell and had no desire to
go to another one.
At age twelve, I was struck down by a
virus and spent a week vomiting and
unable to eat. I stood on the old bathroom scales and discovered to my delight
I had lost 8 pounds. I can still see the blue
bathroom with its white walls and even
now, I can feel the anticipation as I took
the rusty scales from the bottom shelf
and laid it on the floor. I knew these
scales well. I would take a deep breath
every time before I had the courage to
stand on them. Sometimes I rested my
hand on the sink to take a few pounds off
the result. But that day, I knew I had no
need to do so as I could feel the flesh had
melted away during my illness. At that
very moment I hatched what I believed to
my greatest plan; I could eat my food
heartily to hide my secret then purge the
lot knowing my family would never sus-
pect a thing. I found it difficult to hide my
joy. I was going to lose weight. No one
would ever know what I was doing and
the bullying would stop.
I felt totally empowered by my eating
disorder.To those around me, my self-confidence appeared to grow. I was happily
going through life as far as my family and
friends were concerned. Alone, I shed
many tears as I sat on the bathroom floor
and began the process of purging any
food I had consumed in the previous
three hours. I had researched how long
the body took to digest food and was
always on three-hour watch. If I went one
second over this time limit, I felt like a failure and punished myself by forcing my
body to purge until bile burnt my throat.
For eleven years I purged my food.
Having moved to London, my secret
remained undiscovered until the summer
of 1988 when I was hospitalised suffering
from malnutrition.The doctors contacted
my mother who came over to London to
see me.The shock on her face when she
walked into the room made me cry.The
last time I had seen my mother, I was two
stone heavier and wore the baggy clothes
essential to hide the results of a growing
eating disorder. A heavy jumper and jeans
can disguise all sorts of sins but lying in a
hospital bed, I only had a sheet to hide
under. One look at my skeletal body gave
everything away.
My mother asked the inevitable “why
are you doing this?” She could not understand I was so full of self-loathing that I
Grapevine
Jennifer Banks: “After a year of facing up to my problems, I no longer felt the
need to use bulimia to punish myself.”
punished myself with hunger. Bulimia had
just been given a name and few understood the condition.To the average perEating disorders are on the increase
in Ireland. In many cases, it begins in
early teens. Bodywhys, the organisation that offers support to people
with an eating disorder, has developed a CD ROM for schools to create awareness and educate teenagers
and teachers. Saschi Maymen consultant psychologist specialising in eating disorders has contributed to the
CD and believes we need to get the
message across that healthy eating
and exercise is the key to a healthy
life. “Parents need to be educated
most of all. Never discuss dieting in
front of your children and always
reassure them that they are beautiful.
We need to get our young people
away from the TV and encourage
son it seems insane to want to purge
your food. It all made perfect sense to
me; I was six stone and no one bullied me
them to go outside,” she says. Saschi
also believes that parents should try
not to purchase magazines showing
music and film stars looking perfect.
“It is vital that you explain to your
children about airbrushing and that
these pictures are an illusion - there
is no such thing as perfection,” she
adds. Eating disorders are curable
and Saschi has seen many successes.
Early detection increases the chances
of recovery but she says. “If a client
has had an eating disorder for more
than five years, then it is more difficult
to change their behaviour patterns”.
Bodywhys is working hard to create
awareness and provide countrywide
support for those with an eating disorder.
iii
anymore. After the hospital treated the
malnutrition and fattened me up by a
whole ten pounds, I left promising never
to purge again. I had been given the “you
will kill yourself ” talk and a doctor’s stern
lecture about how I was increasing my
risk of throat cancer or liver disease. I
reiterated that there was no chance of
me ever hurting my body again and
thanked them for curing me. Everybody
was happy and off home I went to start
the cycle all over again.
I had learned in hospital how much
food I required in order to keep the
body ticking over and used this information to help sustain my bulimia. One
healthy meal a day and everything else
went down the toilet.The pain in my
heart and the unbelievable loneliness I
felt during this time can never be put into
words.
Bulimia is a lonely disease. Bullying was
the trigger that sent me on my long and
lonely battle with an eating disorder. I was
purging because I felt I had to. Doctors,
parents and friends couldn’t cure me
because I had to face my demons within
first. I went public in 1994 and began my
journey of recovery. It took time but I
eventually learned to love myself again.
I began to understand through therapy
why I was a bulimic and eventually I identified the trigger.The process is a difficult
one and in my case the bulimia escalated
for a while. I began to understand why I
had felt the need to behave in this way
and had to relearn normal eating habits.
My therapist gave me a mantra that I
could use anytime I felt that I needed to
purge. It was vital to learn how to
extend the time process and for me to
exceed the three-hour limit.
Therapy was hell at the time and I
experienced many emotions; some so
intense I was unable to sleep for days.
Eventually the process began to work and
after a year of facing up to my problems, I
no longer felt the need to use bulimia to
punish myself. I began to understand
myself and discovered that I was a good
person who deserved to live a normal,
healthy life and that I deserved to love
and allow others to love me. It’s been
eleven years now but sometimes when I
feel low, the monster surfaces and I have
to try hard to resist old temptations.
For further information,
contact Bodywhys helpline
on 1890 200 444 or visit
www.bodywhys.ie
iv
Grapevine
It has never been easier to obtain loans and credit cards from banks
and young people are seizing these opportunities. David Gomm
investigates the growing problem of debt for this group of people
At Debt’s Door
T
wenty years ago,
young people did
not receive offers of
credit with their
bank statements.
Today, advertisements for car loans
and holiday finance
regularly come
through the letterbox and with banks going for the hard sell, an
increasing amount of customers are falling into
debt.
With more teenagers holding down part
time jobs, banks are increasingly targeting this
group with a considerable disposable income
with colourful ads offering pre-approved loans
for cars and holidays.
When young people enter a bank branch,
they can see colourful posters of attractive
young male and female models advertising
loans with freephone numbers underneath. Is it
any wonder young people are attracted to
spending at an excessive rate?
With more teenagers using credit cards than
ever before, many of them are falling into the
debt trap. Money and debt advisors warn that
if we do not cut back on our spending habits,
many of us could find ourselves at debt’s door
for many years to come.
The Irish obsession with spending means
that fewer young people are saving and,
according to organisations like St Vincent de
Paul and the Money Advice and Budgeting
Service, lots of young people are more in debt
today than in their parents’ generation when
banks were more conservative about lending
money.
A maths teacher from a Dublin Northside
school said it is more essential for young people to know about personal taxation and credit cards than algebra or pie charts. He pointed
out that many of his students have weekend
jobs and have little knowledge of what tax
they are paying. He said that over his 22 years
of teaching he has had disagreements about
the relevance of his subject in the school curriculum. He believes that it is up to those in
the education system to ensure that what students are learning is of relevance in later life.
He called for a change in the Leaving Cert
maths syllabus to reflect pupils’ needs more
appropriately.
Speaking to teenagers, the teacher has
learned that some of his students are buying
cars at 16 years of age with money earned
from summer and weekend jobs. Lured by
attractive credit terms, some had no idea what
they were buying into. He feels that it is
important for pupils to be taught prudent
habits in order to prevent debt becoming a
major part of their lives.
With reality BBC shows like ‘Bank of Mum
and Dad’, it shows how easy it is for some
people to overstretch their finances while
availing of bank and credit card loans issued at
the drop of a hat and how easily consumers
can fall into living beyond their means.
Speaking to a teenager from Portmarnock
who owes more than €2,000, he said his debts
accrued because he wanted to have the latest
motorcycle, designer clothes, foreign holidays
and a healthy social life since finishing the
Leaving Cert last August.
The teenager said he has worked every
weekend in a local supermarket since he was
14 years old and was using his wages to
How’s the
form?
The disabled are a varied lot. But Joe and
Jane Public are a different kettle of mackerel
when it comes to disability. A friend of mine
relates the following incident.
“When I was on crutches and callipers I
was getting a bus home one night and as the
bus stopped for me to get on there was a
drunk getting on and one getting off.
Without asking if I wanted help they both
started to try to help me at the same time.
One was trying to help me on and the
other was trying to help me off. They were
pulling me ragged and when I asked them to
stop they started to argue with each other.
So while they argued I got on the bus. The
driver put them both off for fighting. As the
bus pulled away they were punching and
kicking each other. I got home without help
from either of them.”
Perhaps, the best that could be said about
that duo is that they were a six-pack short
of a toxicology unit. Or a birdseed short of
a hash plant.
Oh! The mind boggles and the world
turns. One wonders how, after years of
publicity and disability awareness, the following incident could occur.
A disabled person went for a job inter-
finance his lifestyle that included the latest CDs
and trips to see his favourite soccer team play
their home matches in Newcastle.
He had hoped to clear his loans quickly but
has failed to do so and is now working at two
jobs in order to clear the debt so that he can
go to college one day. He said the worst thing
to happen was putting his college place on
hold as a result of his teenage spending splurge
and that if given a second chance he would
not do it again.
The Financial Regulator has warned financial
institutions that they have to ensure that young
people are made aware of the risks when taking out loans.This means ensuring that young
people know the interest rates payable and
how long the loan will take to pay back.
With everyone from electrical retailers to
mobile phone companies and the city’s top
department stores all offering increased limits
on store and charge cards and with credit card
companies offering increased limits, is it going
to spell financial ruin for many young people
before they even get to adulthood?
view in a major company and whilst filling
out the form he ticked ‘yes’ opposite the
question on disability. But, the form did not
enquire any further regarding this question.
At the interview one of the examiners asked
him as to the whereabouts of his wheelchair.
Needless to say my friend was not physically
disabled and was somewhat taken aback by
this question. The entire incident begs that
old sequence of question and answer.
Question: How’s the form.
Answer: Filled in.Then there was the story
of the disabled lady who parked her car in
the disabled parking zone with a valid badge
that was plainly on display for all to see.
When she returned she found that a bright
yellow clamp had been put on the car and
duly called the number on the very large
sticker on her driver’s side window. It took
30 minutes for the clamper to return and
release the lady’s car and she asked him why
the clamp had been put on as the car had
been legally parked. “Well you don’t look
disabled to me’, came the sharp tongued
reply. Thankfully, the lady’s Multiple Sclerosis
has not thus far rendered her physically disabled. However, the pretty lady in question
can only walk short distances. But as for the
clamper it seems that if he can’t see the disability, then you’re not disabled!
It seems that when it comes to disability
Joe and Jane Public may sometimes be a
brain cell short of an idea.
Jim Murray
Grapevine
v
Domhnall Bruic looks at Paul Newman’s Barretstown Castle
and its role in helping children with life-threatening illnesses
learn new life-changing skills through a programme of fun
and new friendships
Prescription
for Fun!
he brainchild of
Hollywood legend,
Paul Newman,
Barretstown Camp
is beautifully situated
in the foothills of the
Wicklow Mountains.
Established to
accommodate children with cancer
and other serious illnesses, the team at
Barretstown promotes fun and adventure as
part of a child’s recovery.
The project pitches the idea of “serious fun”
for the children who come from Ireland and
22 other European countries and apply it
though adventure and, you guessed it – fun!
The children take part in a unique programme
recognised by the medical world as playing an
important part in their recovery from serious
illness. Uta Kerl, a paediatrician from San
Francisco, USA, remarked: “At first glance
Barretstown may appear to be a place where
children with severe and chronic illness go to
relax and have fun. It is soon apparent that for
the children there is much more happening
here.”
Launched in 1994 by Newman after his success with the “Hole in the Wall Gang” in the
US, he generously made a start-up donation of
$2 million. He still contributes to the €3.8 million running costs each year, along with generous donations from other individuals and companies.The Irish Government donated the castle, which is the focal point of the centre which
has welcomed thousands of children. Said
Newman: “When I first saw Barretstown
Castle, I knew this was where I wanted the
first European camp to be. I imagined a kind of
medieval bazaar where children from different
countries could raise a little hell together”.
The programmes run at the centre are
activity-based, offering a range of pursuits in
three broad categories: Outdoors adventure,
creative expression and sports and games.
There is horse riding and archery, crafts and
drama, music and canoeing and tree climbing
– all carefully directed to a specific end. Always
presented as fun at the centre, a programme
of “Therapeutic Recreation” follows the model
of: Challenge + Success + Reflection =
Discovery.The children taking part make life-
T
Barretstown’s adventures, left. Above:
Paul Newman, who
set up Barretstown.
changing discoveries of self-esteem, confidence,
independence, trust and coping skills and
friendship.
Barretstown’s Medical Director Dr Fin
Beatnach, consultant paediatric oncologist at
Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children says:
“Barretstown is a unique and invaluable element of cancer treatment and the process of
rehabilitation.The therapeutic power of the
programme changes children’s lives, they
return home happier with a more positive
outlook, better able and more willing to participate actively in their own recovery process.”
The staff team is made up of multi-lingual
‘caras’ (friends) who come from all over
Europe. Hilary Making, communications manager at Barretstown says that so far this year
700 volunteers have been recruited with interpretative skills to cater for 1,600 children coming from 22 countries.
But it is only the children who have visited
Barretstown who can really convey its magic.
Said one in a message after her stay: “Thank
you so much for the brilliant time at camp, I
would never have believed Barretstown could
change your life, but it has done exactly that
for me and I have you to thank for that”.
Said another: “Thank you for a wonderful
time at Barretstown. I wish I was still there! I’m
going to be kept busy writing to all my friends
that I have made at Barretstown. It’s such a
beautiful place here, everything is fabulous. I
feel like I’ve got inside a wonderful fairytale.”
The programme at Barretstown runs three
times a year during spring, summer and
autumn. Each ten-day session is aimed at children between 7 and 17 years of age.The longterm vision and goal of Barretstown is to construct additional facilities to eventually reach
full capacity, serving up to 2,000 children and
family members each year.
This will only be possible through generous
donations and funding from outside sources.
Fundraising events included a gala ball in both
the camp itself and New York, and the
Barretstown walkers and runners participation
in the Dublin City Marathon.There was also a
corporate quiz and Christmas fair in Marley
Park last November and an opera in
Barretstown last December.
As Paul Newman says of the camp: “It’s not
that the children say ‘thank you for a wonderful time’, it’s that they say, ‘thank you for changing my life.”
vi
Grapevine
Research reveals that bullying can lead to mental health
problems and may trigger suicidal thoughts and behaviour in
some people. Mary Healy investigates its effects and looks at
what is being done to address the issue
Bullying goes on
B
ullying in Irish
schools is a problem
which affects the
lives of thousands of
school children and
their families. It is
not a new phenomenon and while
most people are
aware of its existence, it often goes unnoticed and only comes
to light when it has such an effect on a young
person’s life that it can no longer be ignored.
Persistent bullying can have a devastating effect
on a child’s self esteem leading to feelings of
isolation and loneliness.
A study carried out by researchers from the
Department of Child and Family Psychiatry at
the Mater Hospital Dublin and UCD, revealed
that bullying can also lead to mental health
problems and suicidal thoughts or behaviour.
Over 200 students from eight urban post-primary schools, ranging in age from 12 to 15
years took part in a study, which showed that
34.5 per cent of the students interviewed had
a history of being bullied. It was also revealed
that 29.2 per cent of bullying victims had a
diagnosis of a depressive disorder either in the
past and/or present and that attempted suicide
was also more prevalent in those who had
been bullied.
The need for further investigation into the
psychological consequences of bullying was
emphasised in the study, which stated that
because of the hidden nature of bullying the
figures might represent an underestimation of
the problem. The study concluded that bullying needed to be re-addressed in Irish schools.
In a similar study undertaken in Norway,
depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts
were also found to be significantly higher in
students who had been bullied. Following the
suicide of three young people, the Norwegian
Government provided substantial funding
towards research into development and intervention programmes to address bullying in
schools. International studies have shown that
up to 40 per cent of students have reported
being bullied at some point in their schooling.
It has also been recognised that if aggressive
behaviour is not challenged in childhood, it
may lead to criminal behaviour in children and
domestic violence in adulthood.
Twenty-five year old John from Co. Mayo
has personal experience of the consequences
of bullying and still carries the psychological
scars. He said being bullied, both physically
and verbally at school, destroyed his confidence and he felt at the time that no-one
wanted to be his friend. “They used to kick
me up against the wall and I was so frightened
of them that I was afraid to tell anyone in case
things got worse. I used to go home crying
every day and my parents didn’t know what
was wrong with me,” he said. John’s schoolwork also suffered and he felt that even if he
did complain, nothing would be done about it.
Bullying robbed him of his dream of pursuing
further education. “I had such low self esteem
that I felt suicidal and was unable to continue,”
he said. Over the years John indulged in self
harm on numerous occasions and spent time
in a psychiatric unit. He is still on medication.
However, with help and support John now
realises that there was nothing wrong with
him; it was the bullies who had the problem.
He feels very strongly that not enough is being
done to address the issue in Irish schools.
“Until such time as bullies are made more
accountable for their actions the problem will
continue,” he said. He added that the gardai
should be brought in at an earlier stage.
Nevertheless, John has now turned what was a
negative event in his life into something positive. He now helps victims of bullying. “People
who are being bullied are always looking to
me for advice and because of my own experiences I can empathise with them. I am glad to
be able to help out because everyone has the
right to be respected,” he said.
According to the principal of a primary
school in Mayo, most schools have a code of
behaviour that includes a policy on what constitutes bullying and specific procedures for
dealing with it. The principal said that activities
in the playground of her school were always
observed and a record taken of any incident.
She also pointed out that some parents’ perception of bullying can also create problems.
Grapevine
“Bullying is something that is persistent and
constant. Disagreements do not constitute
bullying,” she said. She referred to the Social
Personal and Health Education (SPHE) subject
that forms part of the school curriculum. It
covers - among other topics - assertiveness
skills taught mainly through role-play. She said
that this subject should be taught on a more
serious level in schools. She also pointed out
that, “Bullying happens right across the board;
from pupils bullying each other to teachers
bullying teachers and even parents bullying
teachers.”
However, Nuala Kilfeather, chief executive of
the National Parents Council-Primary (NPC)
said that even though there is a greater awareness of bullying, parents still feel that teachers
are not dealing effectively with the problem.
She added that all schools should formulate a
policy on bullying in co-operation with parents,
teachers and children. She stressed that bullying needs to be tackled at primary level and
followed through to secondary school. “There
should be mutual respect between teachers
and students because teacher behaviour can
also create problems,” she said.
The NPC provides an advocacy service for
parents who are taking or intend to take a formal complaint to the board of management of
their child’s school. It also operates a helpline,
which is available during term-time from
Monday to Friday. Mary Killeen, co-ordinator
of the helpline, said they are inundated with
queries from parents and that 23 per cent of
calls are directly related to bullying by other
children. According to Mary Killeen, parents
have already tried to resolve the problem with
the school before contacting the helpline. “But
often the school will deny the allegations,” she
said.
Dr Maria Lawlor, consultant child psychiatrist
attached to the HSE’s Child and Adolescent
Mental Health Services in Navan Co Meath
said that one in five second year students were
bullied. However, she also said that 28 per
cent of students admitted bullying teachers.
Speaking on the topic of ‘Bullying at School’ at
the Lucena Clinic’s 50th Anniversary
Conference in Dublin recently, Dr Lawlor said
that 50 per cent of students who experienced
bullying once a week or more said it made
them feel suicidal. “Victims of bullying are
prone to depression, anxiety attacks and low
self esteem. School work also suffers,” she
said. She stressed that bullying can have very
serious implications for an individual’s mental
health and if it is not prevented, there is a huge
cost to the wider society also. “Children have
to be assessed and treated and parents often
have to take time off from work,” she said.
Dr Lawlor is involved with the Cool School
programme, an anti-bullying initiative developed within the HSE’s North Eastern Child
Psychiatric Services. The programme aims to
increase students, teachers and parents’ knowledge and awareness of the extent, effects and
dynamics of bullying.
NPC helpline available between the hours
of 10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm on 01-8874477.
vii
David Quinn looks at ASBOs and
speaks to those who believe it will
lead to the unnecessary
criminalisation of young people
ASBOs: Necessary
or Infringement of
Human Rights?
T
he decision by
Minister for Justice,
Michael McDowell,
to introduce the
controversial AntiSocial Behaviour
Orders (ASBOs) in
an effort to deter
unruly and antisocial conduct in
young people, has been met throughout the
year with protest and resentment from people
across many sections of Irish life.
The primary objective of ASBOs is to prevent would-be offenders - including children from engaging in behaviour in their local areas,
which could be considered anti-social or bordering on criminal.
Anti-social behaviour takes many forms;
examples include groups of young people congregating on street corners, playing loud music,
consuming alcohol in public places or in one
way or another engaging in behaviour considered unacceptable by the majority of the community
Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, according to
the Government, would protect victims from
anti-social activity in their homes or in their
communities.
However, parents, youth campaigners and
those involved in the protection of civil liberties and children’s rights are not convinced,
claiming that ASBOs undermine the provisions
within the Children’s Act of 2001, which states
custodial sentences should be used as a last
resort.
“The ASBO scheme will also divert yet
more of the limited funds away from the
implementation of the Children’s Act 2001.
That means more money wasted in courts
and on lawyers that could be spent on communities and social programmes”, according to
the Children’s’ Rights Alliance, an alliance of
organizations involved in the promotion and
protection of Children’s Rights.
The Socialist Workers’ Party in Ireland also
echoed this point.
“Money could be better spent on tackling
the root causes of anti-social behaviour,” a
party spokesperson said, clearly urging the
government to re-think its strategy in response
to combating the problem of anti-social behaviour.
Sarah Benson, spokeswoman for the
Children’s Right’s Alliance told Grapevine,
“ASBOs are a punitive measure that can criminalise people for behaviour that is not in itself
criminal.They can be often imposed solely on
the basis of hearsay evidence.” She added that
a person could risk a prison sentence if he/she
breaches an order imposed upon them.
“If young people are committing criminal
offences, the Gardai have every right to bring
criminal proceedings against them for doing so.
Anti-social behaviour, on the other hand, can
be tackled using the wide range of measures
available under the Children’s’ Act and through
the support of communities,” Ms Benson said.
Anti-ASBO campaigners also argue that the
orders are not necessary because the
Government recently gave local authorities the
go ahead to fine anybody caught consuming
alcohol in a public place and the power to ban
‘anti-social’ gatherings.
However, the Government intends to introduce a series of special provisions designed to
deal specifically with children saying that any
provision dealing with children will be fully
integrated into the Children’s Act to ensure
that the child has all the safeguards that the
Act affords. The provisions will explore alternative ways of dealing with children other than
the criminal justice procedure applied to persons over the age of 18.
The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell
stands by his decision to introduce the orders,
stating that, “the proposal will not reflect the
UK law but will incorporate very important
safeguards to ensure that the orders can be
fairly and reasonably used for the benefit of
the good of the community as a whole.The
duration of any orders imposed will be for a
maximum of two years as opposed to a minimum of two years imposed in the UK.”
The granting of an Anti-Social Behaviour
Order, critics believe, criminalises the individual,
as any breach of an order imposed would
mean the individual has committed an offence
and is liable to be imprisoned.
viii Grapevine
Jim Murray speaks to a recovering heroin addict who gives a
graphic account of his descent into addiction and the
harrowing life that followed
T
im (not his real
name) is a 35
year old drug
addict. Each
day he imbibes
a quantity of a
prescribed
green liquid methadone –
to allay the pain
and anguish of having no heroin. It keeps
him on the straight and narrow, from a life
of crime and theft, from the heaven and
hell of an opiate drug called heroin.
Yet,Tim’s life began far from the dim
underground of hard drug addiction. Born
in a southern county he grew up in a fairly large town in a comfortably well-off
family. Ironically, his father earned the
family’s crust as a psychiatric nurse. Tim
had (and still has) good looks, a powerful
physique and a keen intelligence. At
school he was noteworthy for being at
the top of the heap and not the bottom
of the pile.
Why Tim became a drug addict is anyone’s guess. But, there was one significant
experience, which seemed to turn an
ordinary boy onto those pathways where
the perils of hard drug addiction wait with
a ravenous and predatory hunger for
youthful lives.
As Tim says himself, he “led an ordinary
childhood”. But this was marred by a significant incident, which may or may not
have led Tim into addiction. “I came across
certain people in the neighbourhood who
took advantage of me and sexually
abused me,” he says. His recollection of
this seems partly dimmed by all that he
has been through, but he feels that this
abuse occurred when he was seven or
eight years old.
“Soon after this, I was in trouble breaking into people’s houses and breaking up
telephone boxes. At 12 I began drinking.
Eventually I found myself in circles where
drugs were a regular feature on the social
menu.” Tim began to smoke ‘hash’, which
he describes as “pretty mediocre” in comparison to what he was later to do. “By
now, I was 16 and I found that the hash
calmed me down. Amphetamine - known
on the streets as ‘speed’ – was the next
Tim – The
Story of a
Heroin
Addict
drug that I tried. After a while I felt I
needed something to calm me down after
a few days being high on speed.”
Curiously, during this period Tim was a
good student – ‘a bit of a messer maybe’ but the drugs did not affect his performance at school.Tim began stealing from
his father in order to finance his speed
habit.
“At 18 I was at college, studying electronics and gambling for serious money.
Drinking, playing cards and taking speed
had become the norm. It was at this
point that I discovered heroin and also
cocaine and I found myself drawn more
and more into the hypnotic bliss of these
drugs. Also, my amphetamine habit would
provide me with the buzz and energy to
go up to three or four days without sleep.
Then I would inject myself with heroin to
bring myself down off the amphetamine
high.” Gambling, shoplifting and stealing
from his father on his monthly visits home
financed Tim’s addictions during this period of his life.
On his visits home no one seemed to
notice any difference in Tim. “I find it
strange that my drug use did not suppress
my appetite as it did to other people I
knew.” Perhaps, this was the reason why
Tim’s increasing addiction to hard drugs
went unnoticed.
After college Tim got a job in a meat
factory. At first he was packing the meat
into boxes and after a time graduated to
the boning hall. It seemed to him that
this was an ideal situation. Since boning
the meat was paid by rate,Tim had an
excess of energy due to his speed habit.
Thus, he was well paid and able to finance
his drugs since he could work very fast.
“The speed makes you more alert and
keeps you awake,” he says.
Tim then got the travel bug and he
moved to England. Here he lived for a
time in a London squat. From time to
time he got work in a meat factory or a
boning hall. “But mostly what I ended up
doing was selling drugs so that I could
take my drugs. I came into contact with
every sort. The people I dealt with were
basically the same as me. They dealt in
drugs in order to feed their habit. It’s only
when you get to the top level, those people don’t take drugs at all. They’re just in
it for the money,” says Tim.
This situation continued for six or seven
years. Somehow he avoided any serious
contact with the law although he ran foul
of the police as a result of his squatting
activities. Tim fell on hard times and
found himself on the streets walking the
beat as a homeless person. “I learnt to
think 12 hours ahead and where to go
and what to do to gain aid from charitable or religious organisations,” he says.
Mostly,Tim got help from Christian charities and the Hare Krishna movement.
Grapevine
ix
I was by
❝
now injecting
myself in the
groin as the
veins had
collapsed in
other areas.
Probably as a
result of this
my big toe
became gangrenous. It
had to be
amputated. I
ended up so
bad I nearly
died in
hospital ❞
Once a year,Tim came home to Ireland
- even when homeless. But as he says
himself, “I never gave away a whole lot of
information”. When asked, he would tell
people that he was getting on fine. “The
main reason for coming home was to sell
drugs so that I’d be all right when I went
back, “ says Tim.
Tim relates that he had no problem
getting through customs. “It’s pretty lax
actually. I looked like a really dirty person
who wouldn’t have a lot anyway.” He
talks about his time on the streets and
says, “It was very dangerous. You never
knew what sort of nutter you might meet.
You’re made sleep in places where people
will actually see you. That’s what the cops
tell you anyway. If you go to those places
you will have more of a chance of getting
killed.” Although,Tim never knew anyone
who was killed whilst sleeping rough, he
heard a lot of stories. He relates how
sometimes if someone was drunk, they
were liable to have their blankets stolen
and often got pneumonia as a result.
Tim came home for a while to Dublin.
But London was calling once more and he
returned to the life of a squatter there.
“The local council offered me a flat in a
hard to let estate. This was a trade off for
not squatting. The flat I got needed a lot
of renovation. From here I traded drugs
with contacts I knew, in order to feed my
own habit,” he says.
Then, while on a trip to Ireland,Tim’s
flat was raided by the London police.
After that,Tim said, “I sold my haul, paid
off my supplier and returned home. This
time I veered towards Dublin.” For the
next two years Tim “stayed away’” from
hard drugs though he “dabbled” from
time to time.
Eventually he met a girl and began a
relationship. Still relatively clean of heroin
he started to get nightmares, which were
mainly focused on the sexual abuse he
had suffered as a child. This drove him
back to the heroin and his relationship
began to suffer. By now,Tim’s partner
was pregnant with their son and his
increasing drug taking was becoming
more and more a focus of conflict
between them.
After the baby was born the relationship ended and Tim found himself back on
the trails of homelessness. He felt it was
more dangerous being homeless in
Dublin. “There’s a lot more nutters in
Dublin. The homeless addicts in London
were a bit more human,” he says.
Tim had decided before his child was
born that he needed to get clean. He
went to various doctors, but all that they
could offer him was an 18-day detox programme. There was a three-year waiting
period for a continuous methadone maintenance programme. “Things looked
hopeless for me as I couldn’t get the help
I needed,” he says.
“I was by now injecting myself in the
groin as the veins had collapsed in other
areas. Probably as a result of this my big
toe became gangrenous. It had to be
amputated. I ended up so bad I nearly
died in hospital,” says Tim. As a result,
Tim’s three year waiting period for
methadone maintenance was expedited.
He was given the treatment he needed to
stay off heroin.
Nowadays,Tim is relaxed and happy.
The heroin substitute that he takes every
day stabilises him and keeps him from the
life of the drug addict. As to the future,
Tim intends to take it easy. He knows
that he won’t be taking any more hard
drugs. And he is planning on getting
married and going back to his hometown.
x
Grapevine
Following a car accident in 1985, Pat Hallinan’s serious injuries meant that
his life was to change in many ways. He speaks to Mary Healy about these
changes, his hopes for the future and his activism in the area of disability
Pat with his book ‘More Than Skin Deep’ which tells the story of his struggle to rebuild his life following his accident.
A New Road
to Travel
T
he 1st of August
1985 is forever
etched in the mind
of Pat Hallinan. It
was on that day that
life, as he knew it,
was to change forever. A native of
Killawalla near
Westport in Co
Mayo, Pat Hallinan, an only son, worked on the
family farm with his parents.
Coupled with his love of farming, Pat also
enjoyed the normal social activities associated
with his peer group; particularly going to the
pub and playing snooker. Life was carefree until
that fateful day when his world and that of his
parents and sister was turned upside down.
Recalling the event Pat said: “I can remember
having a pint and the next thing I remember
was something dazzled my eyes and a vision in
white appeared above me. A voice said: ‘How
are you Pat? You had a car accident last night
and you are in hospital, but you’ll be ok.’ ”
The voice belonged to his cousin, a nurse at
Mayo General Hospital, where Pat had been
admitted following the accident. Lying in his
hospital bed unaware of the extent of his
injuries and contemplating what he’d just been
told, his thoughts turned to the neighbour
who had been in the car with him. Pat wondered if he had been seriously injured. “I
couldn’t have coped with that,” Pat said.
Thoughts of his family and how they would
cope with such news also concerned him.
However, a visit from his father brought some
comfort, although Pat knew how difficult that
visit was for his father. He also knew that his
mother would have been unable to face such
a visit at that time but nevertheless that she
too would have been greatly concerned about
him.
The realisation of the extent of his injuries
came for Pat when he was transferred from
Castlebar by helicopter to the Intensive Care
Unit of the National Rehabilitation Hospital in
Dun Laoghaire from where the long journey
to rebuilding his life began. Pat said that having
to depend on nurses for his every need and in
particular losing his privacy and having to be
fed was a great source of embarrassment. to
him. Although reluctant to ask about his
injuries for fear of hearing the worst, Pat
learned over time that he had sustained a very
serious injury to his neck.
Then one day while trying to make himself
more comfortable in the rotating bed the realisation that he couldn’t move his hands or legs
dawned. “I knew then I was paralysed,” he said.
He summoned up the courage to ask the
nurse the question he had been avoiding for
so long. Would he be able to move his hands
and legs again? The answer was a diplomatic
one. “We don’t know, we’ll have to wait and
see” was the reply. Over the long year he
spent in hospital, Pat Hallinan underwent a
number of difficult procedures to help repair
his damaged neck. Intensive physiotherapy and
occupational therapy were part of his daily
routine and he recalls with pride the first time
he was able to lift a cup by himself. “That
brought a great sense of achievement,” he said.
However, facing up to the consequences of his
injuries was a difficult psychological task but
visits from family and friends did help to lift his
spirits, especially the regular visits from his sister who worked as a nurse in Dublin. A visit
from his neighbour who had been in the accident with him was a welcome one because
although Pat had been reassured that his
neighbour was not seriously injured he was
greatly relieved to see it for himself.
Despite his injuries Pat was determined to
lead a productive life and obtained qualifications in a number of computer courses. He
also enrolled for a correspondence course in
journalism and went on to receive recognition
for his poetry and prose. However, his first
step on the road to independence began
when he became a member of the local
branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association.
Grapevine
This helped him to make friends, get out more
often by availing of the organisation’s bus and
also go on holidays.
But his greatest breakthrough came in 1995
when he was offered paid employment with
the Mayo Centre for Independent Living (CIL).
Originally employed as a researcher for the
organisation, Pat is now Leader/Co-ordinator
at their offices in the Parish Centre in
Castlebar.
Over the years Pat Hallinan has championed
the cause of people with disabilities in his
native county. His name is synonymous with
creating a public awareness of their struggle for
a better quality of life. Recently he travelled to
the European Parliament as part of a delegation from CIL to take part in the ‘Strasbourg
Freedom Drive 2005’ - an initiative which
seeks to support the active citizenship of people with disabilities in the European Union.
Assisted by the European Parliament’s
Disability Inter-Group; whose vice President is
the Irish MEP Brian Crowley, the delegation which also included 850 representatives from
all EU countries - highlighted the need for core
funding to be made available to provide PAs
for people with disabilities to ensure independent living. Other key issues raised included the
growing number of disabled people being institutionalised; significant human rights abuses that
many people with disabilities experience and
more effective representation of disabled people in European social exclusion strategies.
At home, in addition to the urgent need for
additional Government funding to help
improve the quality of life for people with disabilities, Pat believes that a lack of will to build
greater cooperation between disability organisations was also an obstacle to progress. “95%
of people running organisations for people
with disabilities are able bodied people,” he
says, adding that little has changed in ten years
since his research days with Mayo CIL when
he audited almost 95% of public buildings in
Mayo for accessibility to discover, in one case,
that only three out of forty adult education
centres were fully accessible. He said that even
today some of the newer buildings are still
inaccessible. “Much more needs to be done in
relation to access to public buildings, transport
and education and the abuse of disabled person’s parking spaces also needs to be seriously
addressed,” he said.
Despite the ups and downs he has encountered since his accident 20 yeas ago, Pat has
had a number of notable achievements in his
life. Among them was the publication in 2003
of his book ‘More Than Skin Deep’ which tells
the story of his struggle to rebuild his life following his accident. “I wrote it so that others
could learn what it is like to live with a disability,” he said. Although Pat believes that having a
disability can be an obstacle to forming relationships, he has found romance in his life in
the person of Anne Marie Healy from
Glenamoy whom he has known for a number
of years. She also formed part of the delegation from Ireland to the European Parliament
in Strasbourg. When asked what the future
held for them Pat said, “You’d never know.
Watch this space!”
xi
Confessions of a
Bad Prognosis
N
owadays, with the
ship into harbour. The age, marital
average disabled
status and social standing of my
person hanging
dancing partner were not designed
out, doing the bad
to awaken unruly passions in the
thing, behaving
breast of a callow youth on crutchobnoxiously on
es.
occasion, and not getting too
I never really worked out the
many stares when going along the
role of the Legion of Mary in this
public highways, it’s hard to
Sean Richardson
so I will have to rely on speculabelieve that once upon a time a
tion, rumour (malicious or othersocial life for a raspberry was a novelty.
wise), religious prejudice and the likes and disOn the drive over to Sandymount on that
likes of many people concerned. After all it
fateful first Club night, I first heard Paul Anka
was in the 1950’s.
on the car radio singing ‘Diana’.Then the coffin
I do have the mature recollection that a cerlid was finally nailed down on Patti Page and
tain lady of the Protestant persuasion was
her ‘Doggy in the Window’ and Guy Mitchell
more then a little incensed when on a club
and his ‘Truly,Truly Fair’. Even good old Perry
outing her son John was baptised into the
Como and his ‘Memories Are Made of This’ bit
Catholic faith by a mischievous papist in a
the dust. Rock ‘n’ Roll had got me.
roadside church. Young John had confessed his
I believe my old alma mater - St Brendan’s
love for one of our female helpers and had
Cerebral Palsy School in Sandymount - may
been turned down. Larry decided that if John
have been the home of the first social club for
‘turned’, everything would be hunky dory. So
disabled people in Dublin but I’m open to cor- he did the business at the water fountain in
rection.
the church porch somewhere in Blessington.
A whole raft of British, Irish and American
The object of John’s affection and my lust
singers were cast into oblivion as Elvis Presley
was completely unaware that her rejected
belted out ‘Heartbreak Hotel’. It was loud, full
lover had converted until his mother rang her
of testosterone and is still looked upon by wiz- at home and lifted her out of it.
ened old guys in nursing homes and long-term
Some well-meaning old guy made a donapsychiatric units as the song that defined their
tion to bring us all to Knock one sunny Sunday
generation.
and the club set off in high gear from what
Cliff and the Beatles had not happened yet
was known as Amiens St Station.This was the
and there were still quite a few disabled perweekend that the Russians launched Sputnik 1,
sons who could be found in the school oratopissing off the Yanks.
ry on Thursday night each week saying the
The agenda was to say the rosary on the
Rosary. It would take a few months before we way down and be entertained by Father
could work out how to hang out in the toilets
Sidney McKewan singing all the top ten hymns
or outside until we could be sure it was over.
over each carriage loudspeaker. This guy was a
From a social point of view, I actually started phenomenal hit during the 50’s - a sort of
from the top and worked my way down. I
Charlotte Church in a better frock. I don’t
walked with crutches and used the stairs a lot
know what order he belonged to but it obviin those days and made it up to the occupaously collected all the cash from his record
tional therapy room to find other ravers sitting sales. A veritable one-man priest’s show.
or standing round while Lonnie Donegan sang
We behaved like lager louts without the
‘Putting on the Style’ on a 78 disc on what
lager, refusing to sing-along-a-pilgrim and
might have been a state of the art turntable. It indulging in smoking and trying to get our
had a genuine brass horn speaker.
most popular Legion of Mary girl into the
On other nights there might be Kenny Ball
guard’s van.
and his Jazzmen or, God forbid, Bridie
The club leader had a difficult time making
Gallagher singing about the Boys From the
us behave as the train pulled into Claremorris.
County Armagh
But we did behave ourselves while at the grotAs we graduated from once weekly socials
to. I was shamed into being a better person
to getting fed up with organised social events
for at least three hours when I saw the real
for the disabled and going out on our own,
suffering, the really disabled.
our problems increased and diminished
Not one of us had any thought for the
accordingly. This was meant to happen. And is future and our social life was largely organised
probably still happening to a lesser degree.
by the able-bodied. Most disabled swingers
with any savvy usually became members of
As soon the Legion of Mary dances
every disability organisation that gave weekly
appeared on the ‘going out’ calendar, I became
socials, summer holidays or any other freebie.
a social animal. The first steps I took at one of
If we had the access to the social and work
these dances were in the arms of a beautifully
amenities that we have today, it is likely that
upholstered lady who steered me around the
most of us would never have met.
floor with the skill of a tug towing a stricken
xii
Grapevine
In war-torn areas, the devastating effects of military action are often
most keenly felt by the most vulnerable in society. Jennifer Banks speaks
to Commandant Shane Fahy about his experiences with street children
during his tour of duty in Afghanistan
Suffer Little Children
A
s part of the
International
Security Assistance
Force (ISAF) based
in Afghanistan,
Commandant Shane
Fahy departed Irish
shores in November
2004 with six other
members of the
Irish Defence Forces for a four-month tour of
duty. It was not his first tour of the Middle
East but nothing prepared him for the poverty
and suffering he was about to witness.
Devastated by decades of unrest and conflict, Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world.There are little or no education facilities, few hospitals and a lack of trained
doctors, medicines and equipment. Because
clean water and sanitation are sorely lacking,
disease is widespread. Furthermore, thousands
have become refugees or displaced within
their own country. Children are now bearing
the brunt of this disastrous situation; dying of
preventable diseases like diarrhoea. In being
denied even basic care and education, they are
suffering from the effects of years of ongoing
conflict.
Commandant Fahy speaks openly about his
first impressions of the country. “Arriving in
Kabul Airport was quite a shock.The whole
area had been indiscriminately mined since the
Russian occupation and we were in a military
zone with specific boundaries to follow in
order to avoid them. When you leave the airport you are met with breathtaking scenery.
However, you quickly realise the level of
destruction this city has endured during the
occupation and war.”
Commandant Fahy recounts witnessing children as young as nine working on the streets
trying to make money for their families. “Most
heart wrenching of all was the fact that many
were young girls and in some cases they lived
where they worked, on the streets. I have
never seen poverty like it. Houses were made
of mud.There was little to no electricity or
running water,” he says. He recalls arriving in
Kabul during winter when the city was cold
and dark with snow still visible on the surrounding mountains. Many of the children had
to sleep outside, unprotected from the elements
Children in Crisis began work with Tahia
Maskan and Allaudin orphanages in Kabul in
1997. Over the years this support has included
huge rehabilitation and reconstruction projects,
provision of non-food items and support to
Commandant Shane Fahy distributing food in Afghanistan.
personnel and logistics. UNICEF carried out
an assessment of orphanages in Kabul in 2003.
The final report concluded that the majority of
children in the orphanages were admitted by
families for economic reasons, generally following the loss of one parent, but rarely after the
loss of two
Commandant Fahy called the Children in
Crisis office and explained that logistically he
could only bring a certain amount. He made
up gift packs for 50 of the children. When he
later spoke to Sylvia, the charity’s representative, he was shocked to hear that the orphanages cared for anything from 300 to 500 children at a time. Not all were orphaned and in
some cases day care was provided for children
in an effort to keep families together and
hopefully reduce the numbers on the street.
They received food, clothing and education
before going home in the evening.
When he arrived at the orphanage to deliver the gifts, he first had to pass through an
armed security check at the main gate.
Describing his experience he says: “This is still
an unstable country but one never expects to
find a reminder guarding the entrance to a
children’s orphanage.” Once inside the building, he realised with deep sadness that his 50
gift parcels meant that he didn’t have nearly
enough to go around all the children. As a
parent this was a particularly difficult experience for him.The emotions are still evident
today as he recounts what happened. “My
heart sank but I had been reassured in
advance by Sylvia that the children understood
that their turn would come. Even so I felt
dreadful.” Commandant Fahy and his colleagues distributed the gifts and were taken
aback when it became apparent that some of
the children had never even seen a toy before.
He recalled that in the midst of all the mixed
emotions prompted by their visit, there was a
sense that at least the tiniest glimmer of joy
had been brought to some of the children and
this made it all worthwhile.
Due to the extreme economic circumstances facing Afghan families, many young
boys now have to work to support their families. Most of the boys are uneducated and
carry out simple jobs like shoe shining, fixing
bicycles, tailoring, and selling cigarettes.
While out on duty some time after the visit
to the orphanage, Commandant Fahy was
faced with an image that will stay with him for
the rest of his life. “I saw what I believed to be
a pile of rags at the side of a busy street. But
then the two small feet of a young child no
more than three came into vision. People
going about their daily lives stepped over this
child like he was invisible. In the few seconds it
took for the jeep to pass, I had imprinted in
my heart and mind the one picture of
Afghanistan that says more than any words.”
Many charities are working to improve the
lives of children in Afghanistan.The US government recently announced a new initiative to
rebuild the educational infrastructure in all
regions of Afghanistan.The estimated $60 million dollar project concentrates on several
core issues essential to a functioning and effective educational system.The main aspect of the
initiative will be the rehabilitation and construction of 1,000 schools across the country
over the next three years.
For now, the crisis continues and - as is
often the case in war-torn countries - it is the
children who usually suffer most.
Rehab News
31
Monthly Prizes in the Rehab
Bonanza Non-Stop Draw
January - Win a Renault Megane plus 10 prizes of €250
February - Win a €5,000 Shopping Spree plus 10 prizes of €250
March Win a Renault Megane plus 10 prizes of €250
April Win a €5,000 Sunway Holiday Voucher plus 10 prizes of €250
May Win a Renault Megane plus 10 prizes of €250
June Win a €5,000 Sunway Holiday Voucher plus 10 prizes of €250
July Win a Renault Megane plus 10 prizes of €250
August Win a €5,000 Shopping Spree plus 10 prizes of €250
September - Win a Renault Megane plus 10 prizes of €250
October - Win a €5,000 Sunway Holiday Voucher plus 10 prizes of €250
November - Win one of 100 Tesco Shopping Vouchers to the value of €200
December - Win a Renault Megane plus 10 prizes of €250
Win a new Renault Megane!
Do you fancy driving away with a brand
new Renault Megane? Or how about banishing the winter blues by soaking up the
sun on a foreign holiday? Or, if that isn’t
enough indulgence, how about hitting the
shops on a spending spree worth €5,000?
These are just some of the prizes on offer
in Rehab Foundation’s brand new Bonanza
monthly draw which was launched recently
and replaces the Rehab Non-Stop Draw.
The Bonanza Draw is among Rehab’s
most important sources of fundraising revenue - providing around €300,000 each
year to support Rehab services.
Apart from helping a very worthwhile
cause, subscribers to the Bonanza Monthly
Draw are also in with a chance to win fantastic prizes that which include Renault
Megane cars, Sunway holiday vouchers,
shopping sprees and vouchers worth over
€170,000 each year.
Tickets cost just €8 per month or €96 per
year by direct debit (€100 annually by cash
or credit card) and new participants can
join at any time of the year.
September 2005 Winners
October 2005 Winners
New Renault Megane
Sunway €5,000 holiday voucher
Martin & Angela Delahan, Co. Dublin
Monica Finn, Co Kildare
€250 Cash
€250 Cash
Eithne Hutt, Co Wexford
Tadgh Sheeman, Co Tipperary
Michelle Holland, Co Kildare
John & Eileen Mooney, Co Dublin
Philomena Hayes, Co Meath
Daniel Ryan, Co Westmeath
Tadhg O’Shea, Cork
Eamon Carolan, Co Cavan
Patricia Bagnell, Co Kildare
Una Murray, Co Galway
Moy Isover, Co Tipperary
Charles Bagwell, Co Kildare
Marie Noone, Co Leitrim
Nancy Sheerin, Co Meath
Joan Leahy, Waterford
Pat Beardmore, Co Tipperary
Jimmy Reidy, Co Limerick
Mark Lynn, Co Louth
Doreen O’Kelly, Cork
Oliver & Geraldine Brady, Co Cavan
The draw takes place on the first
Wednesday of the month. A full list of
prizes and results can be viewed online on
the Rehab website and also here, in Rehab
News. To subscribe to Rehab’s Bonanza
Draw and be in with a chance to win the
terrific prizes listed below, contact Jennifer
Filgate at Rehab Foundation, Roslyn Park,
Sandymount, Dublin 4, or email:
[email protected]
32
Rehab News
The biggest TV
audience for years
tuned in to see
Ireland’s great and
good honoured at the
ESB/Rehab People of
the Year Awards
An armchair army of almost half a million
people tuned in to RTE’s live broadcast of
the ESB/Rehab People of the Year Awards
as Terry Wogan was named as Ireland’s
Greatest Living Entertainer.
The Limerick-born radio and TV star
received the award at a ceremony hosted by
Gay Byrne in City West Hotel for his outstanding contribution to broadcasting and
light entertainment during a career spanning five decades.
Terry’s citation said that he was chosen
for the award in recognition of his “outstanding contribution to broadcasting and
light entertainment over many years and for
his role as a great ambassador for Ireland”.
Meanwhile, Bob Geldof was chosen as
the International Person of the Year for his
extraordinary campaign to make poverty
history and for once again raising the
world’s consciousness through Live 8 concerts in 10 cities across the world of the
problems facing the developing world.
The Irish Person of the Year Award was
awarded jointly to Bridgeen Hagans and
the McCartney sisters - Gemma, Paula,
Donna, Catherine and Claire - for their
courage, dignity and perseverance in seeking justice for Robert McCartney in the
face of a protracted campaign of intimidation following his murder outside a Belfast
bar.
And the Young Irish Person of the Year
was another joint award to Neil Burke,
Anthony Maine and Donal Mooney
continued next page
Absolutely
Rehab News
Fabulous!
33
Recipients of the
2005 ESB/Rehab
People of the Year
Awards pictured
with the presenter
of the show, Gay
Byrne.
34
Rehab News
Fair City actor, Tony Tormey with
his wife, Kate, at the Awards.
representing the pupils of Palmerstown
Community School for their stand which
enabled their deported friend and classmate
Olukunle return to Ireland to sit his
Leaving Cert exams and their continuing
campaign to prevent him and another
Nigerian student from being deported.
Minister for Finance Brian Cowen was
guest of honour at the presentation of the
Awards in Dublin’s City West Hotel which
was attended by a record audience of more
than 1,100 guests including a host of public
figures and celebrities such as Fine Gael
leader Enda Kenny, Labour Party leader,
Pat Rabbitte, Minister for Education, Mary
Hanafin, Tony Tormey and Pat Nolan from
Fair City, racehorse trainer Ted Walsh and
RTE’s Sharon Ní Bheoláin and GOAL
chief John O’Shea.
Broadcaster Marian Finucane received
her award for her tireless commitment to
others through her work in the Irish
Hospice Foundation and for offering hope
and dignity to many people in Africa whose
lives have been torn apart by HIV/AIDS
through the Friends of Ireland charity that
she founded with her partner, John Clarke
and her friend, Mary Corbally. Already the
organisation has established a hospice, day
care centre and housing for orphans in
Khayelitsha, near Cape Town in South
Africa. The charity’s plans for the future
are even more ambitious, aiming to build
more hospices, day care centres and homes
for orphans across South African townships
and in Zimbabwe.
GAA president Sean Kelly was honoured for his courageous and stylish leadership of the GAA through times of great
transition and during the Rule 42 debate in
particular. As president of the GAA he has
also overseen the full redevelopment of
Croke Park and the success of the Special
continued next page
RTE radio presenter and People of the Year award recipient, Marian
Finucane pictured with Terry Wogan, who was named Ireland’s
Greatest Living Entertainer.
ESB/Rehab People of the Year award winner, Fr Peter McVerry
pictured with Vincent O’Neill.
Rehab News
35
(Front row, left to right) Guest of honour and Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen T.D.; Bridgeen Hagans,
partner of Robert McCartney; Paula McCartney; Tadhg O’Donoghue, chairman, ESB; (Back row, left to
right) Padraig McManus, chief executive, ESB; Claire McCartney; Catherine McCartney; Frank Flannery,
chief executive, Rehab Group.
Joint recipients of the Irish Person of the Year Award: Bridgeen Hagans (second from left) pictured with
the Claire, Catherine and Paula McCartney.
36
Rehab News
RTE newsreader Sharon Ní Bheoláin
(right) with her sister Jenny Boland.
Olympics at the same venue. Additionally,
Kelly has been responsible for a number of
further modernising measures, such as
developing a better working relationship
with the Gaelic Players’ Association, introducing a smoking ban at Croke Park and
establishing the new hotel, also at Croke
Park.
David Joyce received an award for his
determination and dedication to advance
the cause of Ireland’s Travellers. He is the
first member of the Travelling community
ever to obtain a barrister’s degree, a tribute
to his talent and his commitment to securing a better life for his people. David’s
legal advice has been crucial to Traveller
families who have faced homelessness and
accommodation crises. At the site of many
evictions, he has been a calming, reassuring
presence, seeking to ensure that the law is
fully implemented and that optimum solutions are found.
Meanwhile Fr Peter McVerry was also
selected as a Person of the Year for dedicating his life to the poor and marginalised in
Irish society after being ordained as a Jesuit
priest 31 years ago, and for acting as a
fearless advocate for those who have no
voice. After establishing his first hostel for
homeless boys in 1979, Fr. McVerry went
on to found the Aruppe Society to care for
boys between the ages of 16 and 18, who at
that time were not catered for by state
health services. In the decades since, Fr.
McVerry has campaigned tirelessly to
found hostels in Ballymun, Drumcondra
and Glasnevin, as well as a number of
important drug rehabilitation facilities.
Another outstanding characteristic of Fr.
McVerry’s hostels is that they care for boys
who, for a variety of reasons, including
drug dependency, would not be accepted by
other hostels.
The award winners were chosen by an
adjudicating committee including editors
from national newspapers, provincial press
and broadcast media from nominations
made by the public. The Greatest Living
Entertainer Award was decided by an
expert panel that chose the winner from a
shortlist of the 10 most popular nominees
voted for by the Irish public.
Joint Young Irish Person of the Year award recipients Anthony Maine,
Neil Burke and Donal Mooney with their former classmate Olunkunle
Elukanlo (pictured far left) at the awards.
Bob Geldof’s sister, Cleo, and his father Bob Snr were at the ceremony to collect the International Person of the Year Award on his
behalf.
Rehab News
37
Sharing a joke: Person of the Year Award recipients, Fr Peter McVerry, David Joyce and Sean Kelly relax
prior to the event.
Debbie Fitzpatrick, Janice Nevin and Rachel Brady enjoying the
occasion.
Anna Doyle and Eimear Duggan.
38
Rehab News
Helen Barrow (centre) and Noel Chilton from Chaseley receive the award as the MS Society’s ‘Preferred
Provider’ from Sarah Phillips, Chairperson of the MS Society.
UK News
HRH The Prince of Wales was just one of
many high-profile artists to exhibit at a stunning new art exhibition which took place
earlier this year at the Chaseley Trust in
Eastbourne.
The exhibition included over 100 paintings and drawings - the work of
professional and amateur artists,
including many of Chaseley residents.
Art is a popular hobby for
many at Chaseley, and this community venture not only
strengthened links with the local
arts community, but it also provided some real inspiration to
explore new media, methods and
subjects.
The Art Exhibition was just
one of many highlights that took
place over the busy summer
months for the residents of
Chaseley.
In August, the RAF’s elite Falcons
Parachute Display Team took time out from
their hectic 40th Anniversary schedule to
pay a visit to residents and staff at Chaseley
during Eastbourne’s annual Airborne
Spectacular.
August also saw Chaseley’s Garden Club
awarded a silver medal in the annual
Eastbourne in Bloom competition, under the
communal gardens category. The Award
Charlie Charms
Chaseley
Sue Wyatt, chief executive, The Chaseley Trust (pictured on left) with
Mitch Kerry, chairman of The Friends of Chaseley, and Simone, Kate,
Wendy, Debbie and Martin of the Activities team. The Activities Team
were named winners of Chaseley’s Department of the Year 2005.
Rehab News
39
The RAF’s elite Falcons Parachute Display Team visited residents at Chaseley. Sophie Allsobrook, granddaughter of Chaseley’s Estates Manager Geoff Wilding, was invited to join the team for a group photo.
HRH The Prince of Wales: one of
many high-profile artists to exhibit at a new art exhibition (left) at
the Chaseley Trust in
Eastbourne.
follows extensive work carried out earlier in
the year to create raised flowerbeds for residents to plant themselves, and a raised
sense and sensory garden. Within a few
weeks of winning the silver medal at the
Eastbourne in Bloom competition, Chaseley
volunteer Graham Broom travelled to
Dublin to collect a highly commended
award on behalf of the Chaseley Garden
Club for the Sense and Sensory Stimulus
Garden. The award was given as part of the
Rehab Council Innovations Awards 2005.
Further awards for Chaseley this summer
included being named by the United
Kingdom MS Society as a Preferred
Provider. This prestigious award is given to
independent care homes and domiciliary
care services that are able to demonstrate
their ability to provide high quality respite
care services to people with Multiple
Sclerosis.
Finally, the residents and staff of
Chaseley nominated candidates for awards
of their own, with the announcement that
the Activities Department within Chaseley
had won the Department of the Year.
Psycho-Social care manager, Kate Shepherd
was named as Employee of the Year, while
Margaret Cumming was recognised for her
tireless work for Chaseley residents by
being awarded with the Volunteer of the
Year Award.
Congratulations to all the winners for all
their hard work!
40
Rehab News
The huge success of
Haven Products has
been recognised
through two major
awards in Scotland
UK News
Haven Products, Momentum’s social enterprise division, has been awarded two prestigious awards in recognition of its impact on
business and on society in Scotland.
The company picked up the two awards at
the Scottish Business in the Community dinner earlier this year. The first was an Award
for Excellence - also known as a Big Tick in the category Impact on Society, awarded
to companies that are able to demonstrate an
outstanding responsible business practices.
Haven also received a second surprise
award in the Inspirational Small Company
Award in the Community
Company of the Year Awards.
Haven operates factories in
Greenock,
Hillington
and
Inverness and picked up the
awards for its innovative Twenty
One Programme, which promotes employment and development opportunities for disabled
people in a commercial environment.
Since its introduction in July
2003 the Haven Products’
Twenty One programme has
seen the firm increase its disabled workforce to 110 employees – 86 per cent of its total workforce. In
the same period Haven Products has accumulated an impressive customer list, which
includes IBM, Playtex and the Edrington
Group.
The organisation offers manufacturing
services to a range of sectors including the
automotive and whisky industries and operates as a commercially viable business – the
difference being that it reinvests all surplus
in creating employment for disabled people.
In July 2004, the company decided to
increase employment opportunities to disabled people and took the radical step of
switching to a mainly disabled workforce,
Stairway to
Haven
working 21 hours per week. This move was
accompanied by increasing investment both
in staff training and in equipment and led to
the proportion of disabled employees rising
from 50 per cent to 86 per cent and also to
the firm’s production and client base
increasing significantly. In September 2004,
Haven moved to bigger premises in
Hillington to cope with its growth. These
were opened by Maria Eagle, Minister for
Disabled People.
Haven Products also made the UK final
shortlist for the National Business in the
Community Awards.
David Whyte, managing director of
Haven Products said: “These awards are
Rehab News
41
The Haven team
pictured receiving
their award from
Samantha Barber,
chief executive of
Scottish Business in
the Community.
Employee at work at Haven’s Hillington premises.
great news for us and recognise the growing
focus on responsible business practice in
Scotland. Since introducing the Twenty One
programme we have significantly increased
revenue, with our Hillington operation’s
revenue rising to £250,000 for the year to
December 2004, from a zero base when the
new operation started in July 2003. We have
also won a number of contracts from other
organisations, such as John Dewar & Sons
& William Grants, as well as our inaugural
customer at Hillington, The Edrington
Group.
“The age of twenty one is associated with
coming of age and independence. The
Twenty One Programme provides that independence - allowing disabled people to earn
proper wages, develop skills and become
active members of their community. The
programme has significantly benefited the
community by providing opportunities for
many disabled people to earn a wage for the
first time and, by working alongside international and blue-chip companies, Haven
makes an important contribution to the way
business in Scotland perceives disabled people’s work and value and indeed the work
and value of the social economy.”
42
Rehab News
Rehab UK has
launched a guide
that is bringing
new hope and
knowledge to
victims of brain
injury and their
families
Editor of the Brain Injury
Handbook, Jonathan
Smallman, pictured with
Geeta Nayar from Irwin
Mitchell Solicitors, sponsors of the publication.
A Helping Handbook
UK News
A new Rehab UK publication is set to play
an important role in helping people to face
up to the trauma of life after sustaining a
brain injury.
The ‘Brain Injury Handbook’ is an essential guide, not only for people with an
acquired brain injury, but also
for their families, carers, and all
those involved in the recovery
and rehabilitation process.
In the United Kingdom alone,
more than one million people
attend hospital each year due to
brain injury – usually as a result
of road accidents, but also in
falls, assaults or sporting accidents.
“One of the most chilling factors of brain injury is its indiscriminate nature”, says Jonathan
Smallman, editor of the handbook. “Having suffered a brain
injury I know that it can happen to anyone,
anytime. It usually occurs without warning,
and can lead to confusion and an overwhelming state of shock and helplessness
about what the future holds in both the short
and long-term.
“My accident had a devastating impact on
my life. I was reaching the end of my training at Sandhurst to become an officer in the
army when it happened. I suffered severe
brain injury and was unconscious and on a
ventilator for two weeks. When I came
round I had the mental capacity of a young
child – it took me years to come to terms
with the crash. I needed both physical and
brain injury rehabilitation.”
Jonathan eventually managed to rebuild
his life and four years ago discovered Rehab
UK.
He said: “I had completed a media &
drama degree in the mid 1990’s but knew
that I wouldn’t make it as an actor, so I
looked to use my media skills in other ways.
“After doing some research I found out
about Rehab UK. The charity helps people
who have suffered brain injuries find their
confidence. It helps them rebuild their lives,
gives them a sense of identity and independence, and helps them to find employment.
“The Handbook will bring vital hope and
knowledge to victims of brain injury and
their families,” he added. “Rehab UK has
Brian Injury Centres in London,
Birmingham and Newcastle where specialist rehabilitation teams provide the training
programmes that enable people with disabilities caused by brain injury to return to work
and education, helping them to become
socially and economically independent.
Ms. Behjat Hurren, Centre Manager at
Rehab UK London, said the Handbook is a
valuable source of advice and reference sur-
rounding brain injury and rehabilitation.
She said: “We have tried to make sure this
Handbook, available freely thanks to our
sponsors Irwin Mitchell, covers everything
that patients, their family, carers and friends
might need – even the professionals
involved in these cases will find it relevant.
“The structure of the Handbook reflects
the progressive nature of a brain injury and
the recovery process. It looks at the definition of brain injury and how the brain
works, the injury itself, likely consequences,
recovery process, rehabilitation and returnto-work.
Divided into sections, the handbook
offers practical help to support someone
with a brain injury. The 2005 edition also
includes an updated national listing of services as well as a section on compensation
and legal claims.
All the information included in the handbook has been drawn from detailed
research, from Rehab UK’s own working
experience, from the personal experience of
people with an acquired brain injury and
their families, and from clinicians specialising in brain injury.
For further information, or to receive a
free copy of the Brain Injury Handbook,
please contact Christina Read, email:
[email protected] (postage and
packaging charges may apply).
Rehab News
43
David Ward recently
passed the most
gruelling test of his life
– thanks to a big
heart and a little bit of
help from his friends in
RehabCare
RehabCare service user
David Ward proudly
displays his medal having completed the
Longford mini-marathon.
Also pictured is
RehabCare care worker,
Olivia Summer, who ran
the thirteen and a half
mile race with David.
A Marathon Achievement
Running a mini-marathon is an achievement
for anyone. But for 27 year-old David Ward,
crossing the finishing line in the Longford
mini-marathon earlier this year was something that people who know him could
scarcely have imagined a few years ago.
David is autistic and attends RehabCare’s
Highfield House on the outskirts of
Longford Town. The centre, which was
opened three years ago and was one of the
first residential care units for people with
autism in the Midlands, has a warm and
friendly atmosphere and is home to David
and three other adults with Autism.
To the layman, autism is best described as
‘sensory overload’. Essentially, those with
autism find it extremely difficult to deal
with any changes in routine or patterns and
unless dealt with properly, these changes
can be upsetting and unsettling.
So for David to have completed the minimarathon and to have dealt with the large
crowd, and the traffic and tension of the day,
was a truly outstanding achievement.
David’s success not only highlights the huge
progress he has made since moving to
Highfield House, but also the important role
that staff there have played in the development of the residents.
Olivia Summer, a care worker at
Highfield House, worked closely with
David, preparing him bit by bit for the
marathon challenge. She, and two other care
workers - Helen Kelly and Olivia Corr – ran
alongside David for the duration of the
marathon. Not surprisingly, they were all
delighted at David’s achievement.
As too were his proud parents, John and
Mary Ward from Moydow in Co. Longford.
They were waiting for David as he crossed
the finish line having completed the thirteen
and a half mile course. According to his
mother Mary, David has made remarkable
strides over the past couple of years. “David
has made great progress. He’s so much
calmer and happier now. We can communicate with him like we couldn’t have before.”
According to Edel Kane, co-ordinator at
Highfield House, every day presents new
opportunities for David. “David can do most
things himself with little prompting. He
helps around the house and in the garden
and of course he even fundraised himself for
the mini-marathon – collecting for a reclining chair for the unit.” Ms Kane is confident
that David will continue to surprise everyone with his progress.
“We certainly didn’t see the day three
years ago, when David would take part in a
marathon,” she said.
44
Rehab News
Launch of In Print
Art Exhibition
An exhibition based on a groundbreaking arts programme in the
Midlands that has helped people
with mental health difficulties to
get their lives back on track was
launched this summer.
Participants of the innovative
Turas Programme at National
Learning Network Athlone were
among the 23 local artists with
disabilities who showcased their
many creative talents at the ‘In
Print’ art exhibition, which was
officially launched by RTE
Correspondent, Ciaran Mullooly
at Athlone Castle.
‘Celebrity You’re a Star’ winner and ‘Fair City’ actor, David Mitchell, joined students
from Dominican Convent, Griffith Avenue to launch the annual RehabCare Bear Week
last October. The fundraising week, which is sponsored by ESB Customer Supply,
aims to raise €1.3 million over three years for the development of RehabCare centre
based respite and resource centre services in locations throughout Ireland.
Kevin Gardner,
Martin Slevin,
Austin Gavin, AnnMarie Crehan and
Gina Reynolds
enjoying the sights
of Venice on
National Learning
Network Athlone’s
trip to Northern
Italy last
September.
Congratulations to National Learning Network Tullamore, as they scooped top prize
for Best Business Premises in this year’s Tullamore Credit Union Tidy Towns
Competition. Pictured at the awards presentation are (Back row, left to right) Adrian
Stewart, regional manager, National Learning Network, Tullamore; Michael Davis,
chairman, Tullamore Credit Union; and Carthage Larkin, Rosemary White, Mary
McNamara, and Majella Dolan, all from National Learning Network, Tullamore. (Front
row, left to right) Cllr Tommy McKeigue, chairman, Tullamore Town Council; Pat
Mooney, National Learning Network, Tullamore; Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen,
T.D., and Peter Ormond. chairman of Offaly County Council.
The exhibition, which formed
part of National Learning
Network’s
innovative
‘Arts
Reach’ programme, featured the
artwork of service users from
National Learning Network
Athlone and the Springfield
Centre in Mullingar.
Trip to Lake
Garda
An intrepid group of fifteen
adventurers, including service
users from National Learning
Network Athlone, set off last
September to explore the beautiful resort of Riva, nestled on the
shore of Lake Garda in Northern
Italy. The week-long trip was part
of a unique joint venture between
the centre’s Turas programme
and the local Mental Health
Services. The action-packed itinerary included visiting Juliet’s
Balcony in Verona, ascending
the Dolomites in a cable car,
touring Lake Garda by ferry, taking a gondola through the canals
of Venice, and enjoying the spectacular scenery and sunny
weather on a bike ride to Torbola.
Tullamore Art
Exhibition
Visitors to Tullamore County
Library last summer were able to
peruse more than just the bookshelves, as the library hosted an
continued next page
Rehab News
45
art exhibition featuring paintings
from twelve local RehabCare
service users. The exhibition
was the culmination of a special
ten week educational programme run in conjunction with
Offaly VEC Adult Learning
Centre. Under the guidance of
Sr. Marguerite, the service users
were able to use a wide range of
mediums to explore a variety of
subjects including maps, stain
glass, windows and architecture.
Maclean Burke, who plays ‘Damien’ in RTE’s Fair City, pictured with Tommy
McElwaine; Wexford GAA Football All-Star, Mattie Forde and Hugh Maddock, Rehab
Foundation. Tommy’s charity marathon run from Ferns to Wexford raised over
€19,000 for Rehab Foundation.
RehabCare
Tullamore service
users, Breda
Malone and
Caitriona
Nicholson, pictured
at the launch of
the RehabCare Art
Exhibition in
Tullamore County
Library.
To celebrate the centre’s fifth anniversary 26 service users and staff from RehabCare
Kilkenny travelled to Waterford last August to enjoy two action-packed days of activities that included a trip on a steam train and a visit to the Dunbrody famine ship in
New Ross. Staff and service users of RehabCare Kilkenny also marked the occasion
by enjoying a very special anniversary dinner.
According to Maura Dolan,
Developmental Worker with the
VEC, the course helped participants to learn new skills and
inclusiveness had been the key
to the success of the programme. According to Marie
Keegan, programme supervisor,
RehabCare, the course also
helped develop participants’
independent living skills. But the
final word should go to Jenny
Monaghan, one of the course
participants. “The course was
really relaxing and I had great
fun with the other students,” she
said.
Marathon Man
McElwaine
Congratulations to marathon
man, Tommy McElwaine who
raised a staggering €19,000 for
Rehab Foundation by running
the full marathon distance from
Ferns to Wexford earlier this
summer. This was the seventh
time that super-fit Tommy has
undertaken the charity run. Over
the past number of years,
Tommy
has
raised
over
€150,000 for charity, assisting
such good causes as the Share
a Dream Foundation and St
Luke’s Cancer Appeal, and
Slaney Search and Rescue. It’s
no wonder he was named as the
winner of the Inaugural Voluntary
Endeavour Award at the 2003
Rehab Wexford People of the
Year Awards. Not a believer in
the loneliness of the long distance runner, Tommy gathered a
large number of fellow runners
and well-wishers on the day to
cheer him on including Wexford
GAA Football All-Star, Mattie
Forde, South East Radio DJ,
continued next page
46
Rehab News
Alan Corcoran and Maclean
Burke, otherwise known as
‘Damien’ in RTE’s ‘Fair City’.
Special Olympics
for Momentum
Four Momentum athletes have
brought an array of medals and
awards back from the 2005
Scottish Special Olympics. The
Momentum
athletes
were
among 2,500 disabled sportspeople who converged on
Glasgow for the week-long
games.
Above: Congratulations to Mark Bergin from
Carnglas, Gracedieu, who became the proud
winner of a brand new Rover 45 in July’s
Rehab Foundation Non-Stop Draw. Mark is
pictured celebrating his win with Joan
Conlon, Rehab Foundation, and with staff
and service users from RehabCare
Waterford at their new premises in the
Tramore Road Business Park. Now even bigger and better, the Rehab Non-Stop Draw
has been renamed as the Rehab Bonanza
Draw. Full details of the draw and the wonderful array of prizes that can be won are
available on the Rehab website,
www.rehab.ie, or see the article on page 31.
Left: Momentum’s T.J. Mc Dougall proudly displays the bronze and silver medals
he won in the cycling events at the
Scottish Special Olympics Games which
were held in Glasgow earlier this year.
Brothers Mark and David
Yuill,
from
Momentum’s
Workability service in the East
End of the city, scored success
in the football competition.
Tennis player Andrew Dowd,
also from Workability, won a
bronze medal in the doubles
and fourth place in the singles.
Workability assists people with
learning disabilities to learn
skills which will help them move
towards employment.
And
Thomas
John
McDougall, who is known as
TJ, scooped a silver medal, a
bronze medal and a fifth place
in the cycling events. Thomas is
supported by the Let’s Go…
service, part of Momentum’s
care division which provides
community based activities and
short breaks for adults with
learning disability. T.J. will travel
to Cuba in early 2006 to take
part in Momentum’s fundraising
challenge.
National Learning
Network Ballybrit
Rehab Foundation walkers from the Carlow/ Kilkenny/ Wexford region pictured enjoying the sunshine outside Ostán na n-Oileán prior to the start of the 12-mile Aran
Island fundraising walk. The walkers raised over €5,300 for Rehab Foundation.
Congratulations to the students
at National Learning Network
Galway who, earlier this year,
raised over €2,600 for Special
Olympics Ireland. “The fund
raising events were great fun,”
says Robert Carroll, a learner
with
National
Learning
Network’s Access Rehabilitative
Training programme. “Each
year the centre’s Local Advisory
Committee organise a number
of fun events to raise as much
money as possible for Special
Olympics Ireland, our chosen
continued next page
Rehab News
47
charity. Last year’s fundraising
activities included sandwich
making, a highly competitive
darts competition, and a 5km
sponsored walk, which took
place in glorious weather.
Everyone here is delighted to
have raised so much money for
such a good cause. And we had
a great time doing it too!”
Lyric FM visits
National Learning
Network
RTE Lyric FM Presenter, Eamonn Lenihan explains the intricacies of radio production
to Kevin Sheerin, Mark Ryan and Stephen Ryan during a visit by the radio station’s
Educational Outreach team to the National Learning Network centre at Jutland Hall,
Limerick.
RTE Lyric FM’s Educational
Outreach team visited National
Learning Network, Jutland Hall,
Limerick earlier this year to deliver its “Making Radio” project.
Some 28 budding broadcasters
discovered what goes on behind
the scenes to produce a radio
programme for national broadcaster,
RTÉ
Lyric
FM.
Presenters Eoin O’Kelly and
Eamonn Lenihan unravelled the
mysteries of radio production,
writing for radio, music scheduling, presentation skills and communication, and teamwork. A
total of four radio shows were
produced by the trainees, which
included an array of classical
music for daytime airplay.
Wexford
Women
Write
At the launch of the exhibition to mark International Women’s Day was the Mayor of
Wexford, Cllr Davy Hynes, with the ‘Newstart Girls’ Margaret Joyce, Sheena Moloney,
Kathleen Whitmore, Ellie Hartigan, Mary Rossitor, Nancy Dwyer, Karen Lawlor,
Colleen Sherry and Carrie Keane-Ryan, as well as friends and well-wishers from
National Learning Network Wexford.
Congratulations to Robert Burnside a participant on National Learning Network Sligo’s
Employer Based Training course. While on
work placement with Homebase at The
Carraroe Retail Park, the store received a
Mystery Shopper visit, and Robert (pictured
here second from right, with Garden centre
colleagues John, Uwe and Tom) served them.
As a result of his excellent customer service, the store achieved a maximum overall
score of 100 per cent - the only store in the
country to achieve this perfect standard. So
well done Robert!
To
celebrate
International
Women’s Day earlier this year
the
female
students
of
‘Newstart’, a vocational training
programme at the National
Learning
Network
Centre,
Wexford, staged an exhibition of
their literary and artistic abilities.
The Mayor of Wexford, Davy
Hynes, opened the proceedings
with fulsome praise for the students’ hard work and lots of
encouragement for our future
endeavours. Mayor Hynes is
personally acquainted with the
benefits of ‘Newstart’ as member
of his own family completed the
course some years ago and went
on to take up a position at the
continued next page
48
Rehab News
NRC Representative
and Roslyn Park student, Gemma Burke,
addresses delegates at
the Rehab Group
Annual Seminar last
September. Michael
O'Brien of NRAC and
Roddy Robertson from
Momentum's Client
Council also addressed
delegates at the seminar, which this year
focused on the importance of service user
participation.
The Lord Mayor of
Birmingham, Cllr
Mike Nangle and the
Mayor and Mayoress
of Armagh, Cllr Eric
and Doreen Speers
pictured on a visit to
the National
Learning Network
and RehabCare centres in Castlebar.
From left to right:
Kevin Bourke, Rehab
Foundation, Mayo;
Peter Dooley, area
manager, National
Learning Network,
Castlebar; Eric and
Doreen Speers,
Mayor and Mayoress
of Armagh; Lorraine
Gibbons, RehabCare
Castlebar, and Lord
Mayor of
Birmingham, Cllr.
Mike Nangle.
The second series of RTE’s
IFTA nominated television
series, Three 60, was back
on our television screens for
a second series last summer.
The nine-part series, jointly
sponsored by RehabCare,
sought to document and
explore people’s experiences
of disability in Ireland and
featured Gandon Enterprises
employee Louise Milicevic
(pictured above, at a dress
fitting) and her husband
Steph, as they made final
preparations for their wedding day.
Gary McIlwaine,
Belfast, in
action against
Cheeverstown
player and
Gandon
Enterprises
employee, John
Cousins, in the
Men’s National
Cup Final,
between Belfast
and
Cheeverstown.
The Cup Final
was part of
Special
Olympics
Europe Eurasia
Football Week
2005.
Picture: Pat Murphy
/ SPORTSFILE
People’s Resource Centre.
Special Olympics
Football Week
Congratulations to Gandon
Enterprises employee, John
Cousins, who together with his
team mates in Cheeverstown
won the final of the Special
Olympics National Cup, which
took place earlier this year as
part of the fifth annual Special
Olympics Europe Eurasia
Football Week. In what was an
exciting and competitive match
at the AUL Complex in
Clonsaugh, Cheeverstown beat
main rivals Belfast by a final
score of 5-1. In addition to the
continued next page
Rehab News
At the launch of the ‘In Print’ Art Exhibition in Athlone Castle were (back row, left to
right) Sheila Buckley Byrne, area manager, National Learning Network, Athlone;
Helen Barry, service user; Colm McManus, service user; Janine Davidson, artist–inresidence; Ciaran Mullooly, Midlands correspondent, RTE; Emily Garavan, creative
skills instructor; Karen Moran, service user; (front row, left to right) Fionnuala
McTernan, National Learning Network; Austin Berry, Athlone town manager, and
Nicola Costello, service user.
Barry Egan, Rehab
Foundation, pictured (front
row, far right) at the presentation of a holiday for
two to the Brazilian Grand
Prix which was won by
Kilkenny man, Thomas
Quinn, in ESB Customer
Supply’s Win Electric
Competition. Rehab
Foundation has been associated with the Win
Electric draw since 1983.
Also pictured is Frank
Kennedy, from Honda; Tim
Bicknell, manager,
Residential Markets, ESB
Customer Supply; and
Carol Anne Lowe, who
plays Francesca, the
Brazilian housekeeper in
RTE’s ‘Fair City’.
Eileen Ryan, National Learning Network
Hollyhill, receives her certificate from Joe
O’Brien, acting chief executive, National
Learning Network at the certification day
held in Abbeyleix, Co Laois last October for
the six staff members who had successfully
completed the innovative training module
called ‘Assessment Practice’. The training
programme was developed by National
Learning Network’s Human Resource
Department to offer a formal qualification in
assessment practice and to address the specific needs of National Learning Network
staff.
49
Congratulations to Gandon
employee, Margaret Quinlan,
for clocking up over 25 years
of service to the Rehab
Group. Margaret, who works
for Kilkenny Corrugated
Cases, is pictured here
receiving her certificate from
Rehab Group chief executive,
Frank Flannery.
Cup Final, the week of football
included coaching workshops,
matches, demonstrations during League of Ireland matches
and exhibition matches.
Rehab UK
Weakest Link
UK 400m Record Holder, Iwan
Thomas, recently represented
Rehab UK in a special celebrity
edition of ‘’The Weakest Link’’,
which was broadcast by the
BBC last August.
Iwan battled it out with other
sports stars and celebrities trying to win money for their chosen charities.
Unfortunately, while Rehab
UK’s profile benefited, it’s bank
balance didn’t, as for once
Iwan’s speed worked against
him: he was the second in getting voted off!
“I really enjoyed filming The
Weakest Link, but was gutted to
be voted off early as I didn’t do
continued next page
50
Rehab News
anything wrong!” said Iwan.
“Anne Robinson is a harsh lady
but I think I handled her well.”
Ironically,
Rehab
UK
vice-president, Clare Balding,
emerged victorious from the
show, winning over £20,000 for
her chosen charity ‘Riding for
the Disabled’.
Thanks go to Iwan for representing Rehab UK and to Sue
Barrett & Linford Christie who,
as Iwan’s Agents (“nuffrespect”), recommended he
represent Rehab UK.
Angela Kerins
reappointed
UK 400m Record Holder, Iwan Thomas, (pictured back row, third from right) recently
represented Rehab UK on BBC’s special celebrity edition of the ‘Weakest Link’ which
was presented by Anne Robinson. Unfortunately, Iwan was the second to be voted off
the programme, but Rehab UK were still well represented as BBC presenter and
Rehab UK vice-president, Clare Balding, (third from left) went on to win the show.
Angela Kerins has been reappointed for a second, four-year
term as Chairperson of the
National Disability Authority.
Angela served as Chairperson
of the first ever Authority and
was reappointed by the Minister
for Justice, Equality and Law
Reform in August. Angela stated that she is “ delighted to be
reappointed”.
“The Authority has had a very
successful first five years, and I
look forward to working with the
members of the new Authority
and its staff to continue, on
behalf of the State, to promote
and help secure the rights of
people with disabilities,” she
said.
Excellence
Through People
At the recent presentation of the Excellence Through People award to National
Learning Network’s Human Resource Department were: Sexton Cahill, chairperson,
Excellence through People; Ciara O’Neill, Enda Doherty and Mary Kelly, all from
National Learning Network, and Roddy Molloy, director general of FÁS.
Pictured at the 2005
ESB/Rehab People of
the Year Awards was
GAA President and
People of the Year
award winner, Sean
Kelly; Peter Stokes,
Rehab Foundation,
and Nicky Brennan,
incoming GAA
President.
The National Learning Network
Head Office was presented with
the Excellence Through People
Award at a ceremony in Dublin
Castle during September which
was hosted by FAS. Ciara
O’Neill from National Learning
Network’s Finance Department,
along with Enda Doherty and
Mary Kelly from National
Learning Network’s Human
Resource Departments were
there to receive the Award on
behalf of head office staff.
Over the past two years
National Learning Network has
been very successful in achieving the Excellence Through
continued next page
Rehab News
51
People standard throughout the
organisation. At this stage more
than 80 per cent of its training
centres and all its head office
departments
have
been
assessed and have achieved
over 90 per cent in every section of the standard.
You missed a spot!’ - members of Bunclody Fire Service, Co Wexford get wet for
Rehab, at the annual Rehab Bunclody Car wash day. The event raised over €4,400,
which is a wonderful return given that the town has a population of just over 2,000
people.
FÁS has recently revised the
Excellence Through People
Award and the new standard
now contains two additional
sections covering Recruitment
& Selection and Employee
Well-Being. One of National
Learning Network’s strategic
goals for 2006 is to apply the
new standard throughout the
organisation and to achieve the
Award for this before the end of
the year.
Kildare county footballer,
Glen Ryan gets a soaking!
Punters at Ireland’s first ever
Sheep Steeplechase race in
aid of the Rehab Foundation
and the Conor Leigh Fund,
took it in turns to ‘dunk’ half
of the Kildare senior football
team by hitting a target with
a ball, which dropped the
brave footballers into a pool
of not-so-warm water.
Above: members of the victorious
Hyland Motor Factor team celebrate
their win in the O2 six-a-side tournament in aid of Meath Rehab
Foundation. Over 24 teams competed
to raise €5,000 for Meath Rehab
Foundation.
Right: Members of the Thomastown
Fire Brigade, Co Kilkenny, ditch the
hoses for sponges, brushes and some
good old elbow grease at the annual
Rehab/ KCLR FM car wash day.
52
Rehab News
It might have been an
ungodly hour in the
Roslyn Park canteen,
but Jacqueline
Johnston-Fagan of
Mediability says it was
still a thrill to make
her debut as a film
director
Groping around my bedside locker trying to
locate the source of the infernal polyphonic
ringtone, I jolted upright as the realisation
infiltrated my groggy brain and eventually
headed south to settle in the pit of my stomach – TODAY IS THE DAY! It was 5am,
pitch black, cold and I was on the verge of
making my directorial debut. The nerves
that had broken my sleep all through the
night were now at fever pitch as I flicked
through my film shot list for the zillionth
time…
Rewind four months to the genesis of the
idea to make an informational video about
the NRC’s Charter of Rights and
Responsibilities for service users. It came
about following a review with staff and
service users when it became clear that more
information on the Charter was required.
Suzanne Duggan of the NRC conducted a
survey to find out how best to deliver the
Charter information and a video/DVD representation emerged as the favourite option.
After a period of consultation with students from several Network centres, Roslyn
Park, the graduates from the Mediability
Programme and various members of staff,
the idea began to take shape. The students of
Performing Arts at Roslyn Park together
with drama coaches Sinéad Murphy and
Geoff Cox, put together a very funny script
and quite quickly, the project started to
become a reality.
The employees of the newly formed
Mediability Production Company headed up
by Dan Dwyer and Katriona Kerrigan began
to flesh out the ideas and got down to the
finer details of how it would all be put
Lights, Camera,
Action…
together and eventually filmed. Over the
months, the inevitable script rewrites, castings, rehearsals, treatments and an assortment of fiddly bits called on a great collaborative effort from all those involved.
Fast forward to the day of THE SHOOT!
The night before, I had met up with the crew
and we’d gone over the order of filming,
synchronised our watches and downed a few
steadying swift halves! We were ready,
there was no going back and I went to bed
and dreamt of every filming cliché known to
man. “Roll it there, Colette” brought a peculiarly Irish flavour to my nightmares.
Rehab News
53
Members of
the cast and
crew of the
NRC video
run through
a scene prior
to filming.
Leonie Doyle, one
of the principal
actors in the NRC
video.
Caffeine-fuelled and raring to go, the
crew and cast assembled at an ungodly hour
in Roslyn Park’s canteen where we hoped to
get most of the restaurant scenes shot before
the hungry student masses started arriving in
for lunch. Now whether we had a spot of
divine intervention or a member of the crew
was a dab hand with a plumber’s spanner
we’ll never know, but just when it looked
like we were running out of time, fortune
smiled on us. A flood in the building – not
quite of Noahian proportions but significant
nonetheless – meant that the aforementioned
hungry masses that had yet to descend on us
were stopped in their tracks and sent home
and we were able to steam ahead uninter-
rupted. And the camera rolled and rolled as
my initial nerves were replaced with a sense
of excitement and pride in the piece of work
that was unfolding successfully and seamlessly right before all our eyes. The
Performing Arts students played a blinder
with our leading actors Jake Antas, Leonie
Doyle and Neil Judge and a dream cast of
supporting actors providing Oscar-worthy
performances and more comedy than a box
set of Fr Ted episodes. Of course, the many
people behind the scenes that made props
(including gory severed fingers!), organised
costumes and sets and helped in any way to
ensure the success of the filming, deserve a
mention also.
Following two full days of productive
filming, my Spielberg moment finally came
to a close when it fell upon me to utter the
legendary phrase, “It’s A Wrap!” All my
colleagues in Mediability agreed that it was
a wonderful experience and a fantastic
launch pad for our media production
careers. We are currently in post-production
and look forward to unveiling the DVD in
the very near future.
54
Rehab News
€100 Double Crossword
Fill in the puzzles below and send them to: Crossword Competition, Communications Department, Rehab
Group, Roslyn Park, Sandymount, Dublin 4 before February 17th.There is a special €50 prize for the first allcorrect answer drawn for each puzzle.There were a bumper number of entries in the last edition’s crossword
competition and congratulations goes to Jackie Dyer,Tralee, Co Kerry who was the first correct entry drawn.
ACROSS
DOWN
2 Rove in search of prey
6 Unconscious state
7 Pain
8 Body In space
10 Shellflsh
12 Giveout
15 Hum
17 Item of crockery
19 Speak
20 Omission mark
22 Levantine spirit
24 Silver (heraldry)
27 Flat
28 Ballot
29 Out of kilter
30 Given medicine
1 Extinct bird
2 Group of wolves
3 Ear-shell
4 Dormant
5 From Bangkok, e.g.
9 Of a greater age
10 Frolic
11 Snap
13 100 cm.
14 Fortune-telling
cards
16 Extraordinarily
18 Followed
21 Roof projections
23 Out of control
25 Pleased
26 Standard
32 Ode
33 Give a loan
DOWN
1 Put goods on a truck, e.g.
2 Gather in the harvest
3 Claim
4 Teeth
5 Brave man
6 Middle Easterer
7 Touch
10 Match
12 Refectory
15 Dirty look
17 Votes in favour
20 Of the stars
22 Fragrant oil
23 Moist
24 It’s shown on a clock
face
25 Dutch cheese
27 Hoar-frost
28 Scratched a living
Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
ACROSS
1 Old Italian currency
5 Fifty percent
8 Prisoner on the run?
9 What a pity!
11 Nation
13 Hoodwink
14 All over the world
16 Flatten to the ground
18 Comic song
19 Soil
21 Lugholes!
23 Loathe
26 The elm, e.g.
29 Dry
30 Skating arena
31 Road surface
____________________
____________________
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Ph: _ _ _ _ _ _
Rehab News
55
Appreciation
❝ As chairman, Tom
had a clear
understanding of his
role and was an
invaluable ally and
mentor. He provided a
willing ear and his
sound advice was based
on his motto: ‘Always
play to peoples’
strengths’ ❞
Rehab News pays
tribute to Rehab
Foundation chairman
and Group board
member, Tom O'Reilly,
who passed away
recently
Tom O’Reilly – A Man of Action
I first met Tom O’Reilly in the summer of
1981. The ESB had asked for a meeting with
Rehab Foundation. The purpose of the
meeting was to create a synergy whereby
ESB customers would be enticed to pay
their electricity bills punctually and in
return for Rehab Foundation’s involvement
they would be financially rewarded.
Tom was the senior ESB person present at
the meeting. It was very clear that the idea
was his own and that there were a few
doubters on his side. Tom and myself got on
well. I was attracted by the simplicity and
originality of the plan and Tom’s total belief
that it would work. However, like all good
ideas there was opposition, mainly from
legal minds who saw problems. Tom only
saw opportunities. Luckily the man of
action would prevail, and so Win Electric
was born.
During those discussions I was to learn
much about and from Tom. He had a warm
personality and was motivated by a deep
sense of compassion and humanity. As head
of accounts in the customer relations department of the ESB, he was responsible for bill
payment. Punctual bill payment was running at about 20 per cent at the time. Times
were difficult in the early 1980’s; low
wages, high taxes, rising unemployment.
Against that background Tom was expected
to play tough. He had potent tools at hand:
cut off power supplies to defaulters, sue etc.
But Tom was too compassionate a person
to add to the misery of the times. Tom decided he would not confront, he would seduce
the customer and he won hands down.
Within weeks punctual bill paying had
rocketed to almost 70 per cent. Over the
years the Win Electric concept would be
copied by other utilities and other countries.
The message was clear, you don’t have to
be confrontational to make real progress.
You just have to be visionary, creative and
resourceful. Tom had these qualities in
abundance. In his world everyone should be
a winner. It was 1990 before I could prevail
on Tom to join the board of Rehab
Foundation. In 1996 he was elected chairman and appointed to the board of Rehab
Group. In the intervening years Tom never
missed an opportunity to be of assistance to
Rehab.
As chairman, Tom had a clear understanding of his role and was an invaluable ally
and mentor. He provided a willing ear and
his sound advice was based on his motto:
‘Always play to peoples’ strengths’. Tom
also had a strong reputation as a negotiator
where he could be very demanding to counterbalance what he saw as concession.
But Tom’s real passion was his wife Mary
and his family, Brendan, Miriam and Aileen
to whom he was a loving husband and doting father. Our sincerest sympathies go out
to them – Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
SF
56
Rehab News
The new Rehab-wide Intranet will
provide easy access to a vast reservoir
of information across every part of the
organisation
Many of you will have heard the saying that
the whole is greater than the sum of its parts,
and the Rehab Group is a case in point.
Wouldn’t it be great if it were easier to tap
into the expertise and knowledge of your
colleagues to find information, no matter
where in the Group it is held? And what if
you could communicate and work more efficiently? These are just some of the aims of
a new project that has been set up to develop and introduce a Group-wide ‘Intranet’.
An Intranet is a secure internal system of
information sharing and communication that
is built using Internet technology and can
only be accessed by staff. It is not totally
new to the Group, and indeed some Rehab
companies are already realising the benefits
of an Intranet. For example, Rehab UK set
up its own Intranet, and its usage is totally
ingrained into their way of work.
RehabCare has also made a very large
investment in its Intranet, which, after
recent testing, is about to be made available
to a wider audience.
The vision driving a Group-wide Intranet
is to create a platform that will bring together the Intranet initiatives already in place at
RehabCare, Rehab UK, Research &
Innovation Department and the National
Learning Network, and build in the requirements of other companies and departments.
Taking this step will capitalise on the knowledge base of employees by making it possible to seek and find information from any
part of the organisation via a single system.
Through enhancing information delivery
and communications, it is hoped that in time
the Intranet will become the resource that
many Rehab staff will use every day in order
to do their job, although alternative means
of communication and knowledge sharing
will of course still be required for staff that
do not have regular PC access. The Group
Intranet will be a large and significant
Intranet: The vision
driving a Group-wide
Intranet is to create a
platform that will
bring together the
Intranet initiatives
already in place at
RehabCare, Rehab
UK, Research &
Innovation
Department and the
National Learning
Network, and build in
the requirements of
other companies and
departments.
Keeping
Us Connected
resource to manage. The key to its success
will be the active involvement of each company and department in its development,
maintenance and use. More importantly,
companies and departments will be responsible for the administration of their own
content on the site, to ensure that it remains
relevant and up-to-date.
Thanks to the efforts of a Group Intranet
Working Group, established last year to
oversee and manage the development of a
Group-wide Intranet infrastructure, the new
Rehab News
project is not starting from scratch. A list of
potential Intranet content and access needs
in all companies and departments in Ireland
and the UK has already been compiled. The
next phase will be to liaise with individual
companies and departments to confirm their
needs and required access levels with a view
to preparing a design brief and technical
specification for the Group Intranet. A project manager has recently been recruited to
drive this process.
Staff in various parts of the Rehab Group
are already experiencing the advantages of
an effective Intranet system. As we progress
into 2006, this experience will be extended
to increasing numbers of staff and it is
expected that by the end of next year a fully
integrated Group-wide Intranet will be in
place with all companies and departments
networked
57
58
Rehab News
Gillian Giles, a
student with National
Learning Network’s
Employer Based
Training programme in
Bantry, Co Cork writes
of her experiences as a
crew member on board
‘Tenacious’ in the 2005
Tall Ships Race
It was with great excitement, and some trepidation, that I travelled to Waterford last July
to join the Irish crew on board the Jubilee
Sailing Trust ship ‘Tenacious’ for the first
leg of the 2005 Tall Ships race from
Waterford to Cherbourg. The Jubilee Sailing
Trust is a British-based organisation whose
aim is to promote the integration of people
of all abilities through the challenge and
adventure of tall ship sailing. The facilities
onboard the ship ensured that no matter
what a person’s disability they had full
access to all parts of the ship.
Our crew were a very mixed bunch. There
were people in wheelchairs and people with
visual impairments; there was an 85 yearold and a 16-year-old, and everyone in
between.
Having been introduced to the ship’s permanent crew, I was issued with oilskins,
safety harness, wellies and a transit seat for
my wheelchair, which is used when going
aloft and for emergency evacuations. All kitted out, we were ready to set sail.
My first impression when I looked at my
watch card, which outlined my timetable for
the week, was that I would have plenty of
time off for sunbathing. Not a chance!
Everyone worked two 4-hour watches per
24-hour day. The toughest of these were the
Hitting the
High Seas
midnight to 4am, and the 4am to 8am. Being
on watch was good fun, but there were also
responsibilities, such as filling in the log
every hour with details of wind, sea, air
pressure, mileage, and temperature. The
best thing about being on watch was actually steering the ship. This was quite difficult
Above left:
Gillian Giles
learning the
ropes. Above
right: The aft
starboard watch
of the Tenacious'
pictured at the
quayside in
Cherbourg
proudly
displaying their
race result.
to get used to, but I managed it. Other watch
duties included trimming the sails, lookout,
security checks and getting the members of
the next watch out of their warm bunks. All
of this, made me feel like a real part of the
crew. Getting to know the names of all the
different ropes, yards, sails and general sail-
Rehab News
ing terminology was difficult. There are
three masts, five yardarms on each, three
different styles of sail, over five miles of
rope in total and all of it to be hauled by
hand!
The permanent crew on board
‘Tenacious’ were wonderful instructors and
we quickly learned the ropes – quite literally! Despite a slow start in the race, we
worked hard as a team and soon made up for
lost time. However, it still came as a shock
when we arrived in Cherbourg to discover
that not only had we come in second in our
class, but we were also second overall out of
92 ships!
We had beaten professional crews, naval
vessels and coastguards from around the
world and we were only amateurs and
beginners, but we had wonderful team spir-
it. Disabilities were forgotten; only abilities
mattered. For example our ship was brought
into Cherbourg with a blind man at the
helm!
The whole town of Cherbourg was
thronged with people, including many who
had traveled from all parts of Europe to see
the Tall Ships. When I accepted our prize on
behalf of the crew, a huge shout went up
from the crowd and everyone seemed to
understand what we had achieved.
My week on board ‘Tenacious’ was certainly not a standard sun holiday. It was hard
work, full of challenges and responsibility,
learning about teamwork, and not getting a
lot of sleep. But I made a lot of good friends,
strangers I now feel that I’ve known all my
life. I achieved full participation in the running of a tall ship, even climbing up the
59
mast, navigating, hauling on ropes and setting sails, as well as working in the kitchen,
serving meals and cleaning the ship from
‘stern to stern’. I also laughed more than I
have ever done before. On more than one
occasion people thought I was crying, I
laughed so much that tears ran down my
face.
I will never forget the experiences of that
week. I can’t wait to go back for my next
voyage on a ship where disabilities do not
matter and anything is possible. That is difficult to find, even in this day and age. I
would recommend it to anyone, whatever
their age, disability or ability.
To find out further information on the
Jubilee Sailing Trust, visit their website at
www.jst.org.uk or contact Sally O’Leary by
email at [email protected]
ad going
here.
Sent
direct