Service-users Stella Martin, Ciara O’Brien, and Catherine McMyler at the IWA open day.

Open day showcases multiple IWA services that are key to the community

Published: Thu 3 Aug 2023, 10:35 AM

The Springfield Centre was a hive of activity last Wednesday for the Irish Wheelchair Association’s (IWA) Open Day, - nothing new for the centre as its services are in high demand!

The event was a chance to find out more about volunteering at the hub, as well as community employment opportunities, and for service-users to learn more about the school of motoring, and assisted living services.

Alice McDonnell, service coordinator, talked of what's new at the IWA and the challenges ahead.

Moira Murphy, Elaine Kelly, IWA, and Cathal Quigley.

“We have our new bus up and running and all the money was raised by the community, so that provides transport for the services-users in the IWA. We travel out in rural areas, sometimes two or three trips a day, because the demand is there. It's getting drivers that's a challenge. We're very much dependent on Community Employment (CE). At one stage we had 17 CE workers here, now we're down to three, so we're actively putting a call out there for volunteers and CE workers today.

“We're partly funded by the HSE, but we're a not-for-profit, so a lot of our money depends on fundraising and that's a challenge, particularly with the cost-of-living crisis," continues Alice.

In the revamped IWA garden are : Niall Brennan, Tony Kane, Kevin Brady, Aine O’Neill, Stella Martin and Bill Collentine of Mullingar Tidy Towns.

"Our resources are limited but we work around that as best we can. We try very much to be person-centred, so what the service-users want, we try to provide," Alice explains, adding that there are plans to provide new courses.

"Bill Collentine and John Bawle of the Tidy Towns have been great in helping us with our garden, which was neglected over Covid, and Green Farm Foods have been in and did volunteering days helping us to get the garden up and running again. We're hoping to run a partnership with the Tidy Towns, around therapeutic horticulture, and to bring in the community as well. We're also looking to develop an archery course for people with disabilities and the wider community.

Pictured at the IWA Open Day in the Springfield Centre on Wednesday last are from left: Theresa Cooper, Martin Dunne, Mary Brennan, Alice McDonnell, Deputy Robert Troy, and Stefano of the IWA.

"We also have a driving school here, so people who have had a stroke, or have MS or Parkinson’s, that helps them get back driving and become more independent. They can also access the information about making alterations to their vehicles. We also have our assisted living services."

One service-user, Ciara O'Brien, spoke about what the IWA means to her.

“The IWA for me, is a lovely service," begins Ciara. "I attend two days a week, and it's great to have that interaction with everybody. Everybody's so friendly and helpful. We do lots of activities, from bingo and quizzes, to art, pottery, and bocce. One of my favourites was learning to crochet again, which I hadn't done since school, and I crocheted an awful lot of things like teddy bears and reindeers, cardigans etc. You can join in whatever activity draws your interest; it’s all very relaxed."