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Donation helps ‘brighten days’ for
Inishowen children
05.05.20
Spraoi agus Spórt in
Carndonagh has welcomed a €500 donation from AIB to
help it facilitate a unique series of fun online
Zoom activities aimed at supporting children and
young people with disabilities during the Covid-19
restrictions.
Co-founder and CEO of Spraoi agus Spórt, Helen Nolan
said: “We are delighted to receive this generous
donation from AIB which is helping us to provide a
wonderful new service that will benefit
approximately fifty families in Inishowen.
“Indeed, this donation is helping us to create a
unique series of fun and creative online Zoom
activities for children and teenagers with a
disability and/or autism which is brightening up
their days and is helping parents and carers to cope
with the lockdown.
“Covid-19 has been an overwhelming challenge for
families of children with disabilities – not least
because of the absence of a daily routine, missing
friends and family members, or the support that they
would normally have access to from healthcare
professionals."
“Our fantastic new Zoom activities are therefore not
only aimed at educating and entertaining children
and teenagers in a creative way but are also helping
parents in terms of respite or their child’s mental
health and wellbeing.
“Our many fun activities include how to make things
at home, art demonstrations, online music / singing
and story time sessions." |
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Helen Nolan, Spraoi agus Spórt CEO,
receives a €500 cheque donation from Pauric Bonner,
Manager AIB Carndonagh. |
An example of messages
sent by parents expressing their delight at the new
service includes a mother who said: “Our daughter
has a moderate general learning disability (GLD) and
is very sociable. She has been missing school and
the social contact of her friends terribly and has
been very difficult to manage in the home (during
the lockdown). When Spraoi suggested the Zoom
meetings I wasn't sure if she would like them
because she is non-verbal. But I couldn't have been
more wrong! The tutor talks to each child by name
and gives them a chance to respond in the group. She
loves the art demos, story time and music and above
all, the familiar friendly faces that she knows from
Spraoi. She looks forward to each Zoom meeting and
it has added purpose and fun to her day!”
Spraoi agus Spórt CEO Helen Nolan has also said that
donations like those from AIB are vital for their
organisation in terms of providing services like the
Zoom meetings as their revenues have been hit hard
by Covid-19.
“I am acutely aware that all sectors of society and
the economy are facing unprecedented challenges at
this very difficult time and that the charity,
community and voluntary sector is no exception” said
Helen.
For further information on their Zoom activities or
to donate to Spraoi agus Spórt please contact their
helpline on 074 937 3303 or email
support@spraoiagussport.ie . |
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