Glenshane Care Association Ltd

Public benefits

The benefits that flow from this purpose include access by rural adults with physical, sensory, psychological and learning disabilities to the Glenshane Care Centre – a purpose built and spacious centre in Dungiven, Co. Derry. This safe recreational facility provides people with meaningful activities which include vocational support, training,

therapeutic and recreational activities. Users are supported in developing social skills which assist them in having a more independent life and ensure full integration into wider society. Our interventions also have a positive impact on the physical, mental and emotional outcomes for all users, allowing people to lead a healthy and positive lifestyle which can assist them in more independent living. Carers and family members of people with learning difficulties also benefit from our work by getting respite whilst their family members are in our care. We also provide a space in which volunteers (of all ages) can play a positive role in supporting the various strands of work we do. These are important opportunities for volunteers and they can develop a range of practical, caring and social skills which can contribute to their own personal and professional development. We also ensure that awareness is raised about the specific needs of people with disabilities by engaging with the local community, other community and voluntary organisations and statutory agencies. The benefits that flow from this is increased focus and understanding of these needs and a more coordinated response to meeting these needs. We also ensure that people with disabilities do not have to travel long distances to receive the same level and quality of care which they can received within their local area. This has positive benefits for our users mental and physical wellbeing as they are not under the stress or inconvenience of having to travel longer distances to major urban centres. All of our work can be demonstrated by feedback from all users. We also have 2 people acting as Trustees who have disabilities and are users of the services so this is an important conduit for information and in terms of shaping what we do. We provide regular opportunities for users to articulate feedback on all aspects of what we do. The positive impact of specific interventions such as our own on people with learning difficulties is well documented by publicly available research and can be reinforced through internal evaluation of our own work. We also work with carers and other family members to ascertain the impact of our work. This can be looking at the benefits enjoyed by carers and family members but also based on observations of any positive change enjoyed by people with learning difficulties. The benefits of our work are also evidenced by support for our charity by both family and wider community support at fund raising events, open day events and our various recreational activities. We create a number of volunteer opportunities in which people of all ages are supported in making a positive contribution to the work of the charity. There is no harm flowing from this purpose. The primary beneficiaries of our work are rural adults with physical, sensory, psychological and learning disabilities in the Dungiven and surrounding rural areas of County Derry. There is no private benefit which flows from this purpose. We have identified only an incidental benefit which is where Trustees and volunteers are provided with training opportunities in terms of governance, project management and fundraising. This may have positive benefits for the personal and professional development of trustees and volunteers. This is however critical to their role within the charity and ultimately benefits the users of our service. One other incidental benefit may be that Trustees with a disability may also be service users. However, these Trustees do not get any preferential treatment over and above that enjoyed by all users.

What your organisation does

We will continue to apply for grants. Renewal of Block grant WHSCT, fundraising with a view to becoming more self sustainable.