Breidge Gadd, who is a Big Lottery NI Board Member, travelled to the Lakeland Forum recently to see for herself how Lottery funding had helped get off the ground the 'Beyond Spectating' project which, to date, has enabled over 250 disabled persons and their carers to try out new activities.
Ms Gadd, who was a guest at the 'Active Lifestyles Programme' in the Forum of the South West College (Enniskillen Campus) presented Certificates to six volunteers who had qualified in supervising clients with disabilities in a range of activities.
Gabriel Keown, the Project Coordinator at Fermanagh College, explained that the Beyond Spectating project had enabled people with disabilities to participate in a range of low-level physical activities. These activities have both been tremendously enjoyable and, at the same time, contributed to a more healthier lifestyle.
The range of activities covered by the project include Boccia, New Age Kurling, chair exercises, yoga, swimming and aerobics.
"Weekly time slots of between one and two hours", he explained, " were provided for beneficiaries over periods of 6-8 week blocks. These can then be rotated to allow the users to try the other and different activities.
All activities were either delivered in-house, at the South West College or in the Forum.
Gabrial Keown stressed that the key to the success of the project was the 'partnership' network established between the college and the different organisations providing various services to disabled persons throughout Fermanagh and Tyrone.
"This partnership approach was an excellent way of engaging beneficiaries, whilst at the same time promoting the concept of healthy living.
"It also enabled volunteers to be trained in the partnership organisations, skills which would undoubtedly prove useful after the life of Beyond Spectating", he added.
Also present at the Certificate presentation were Roisin Henry, who is the sports coordinator for disability sports and three of the volunteer coaches, Tara Knowles, Lindsay Clarke and Mary Carney.
