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CREATING A NATIONAL EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY CENTRE

ChildVision is creating a National Equine Assisted Therapy Centre, for blind, multi-disabled and neurodiverse children. A world-class facility where they can access our globally recognised equine therapeutics. To learn more and be part of the vision click here

Home > Research and Training > Pobal Work It Out Project

Pobal Work It Out Project

ChildVision were successful in a grant application to the Dormant Accounts Fund in January 2021. This grant was for the Work-It-Out project, an employment skills project for young adults with multiple disabilities and visual impairment. The grant meant that ChildVision could hire three Employment Skills Trainers that would support 20 participants to improve their work related skills, access work experience and explore further training or employment options in their local communities around Ireland.

In March we began to collaborate with FastTrack to Information Technology (FIT). We planned a series of four workshops that culminated in thirteen of the participants doing a mock interview for a job of their choosing. FIT worked individually with each person on Skills Assessment, CV preparation and interview skills.

Activities

Using a person centred approach each person undertakes 2 weekly one-to-one training sessions that is specific to their individual needs. These range from QQI levels 1- 3 component modules, to Asdan short Courses (Careers & Experiencing work) and Towards Independence modules. The modules all focus on work and career preparation and allow the participants to learn about different career options, how to apply for a college course or skills needed for specific jobs. They will complete these for moderation in May/June 2022.

 

Work Experience

The participants are all undertaking practical employment skills training in a variety of settings. Due to covid restrictions many of them are on the ChildVision campus. These include reception, the café and gardencentre as well as in the soap, horticulture, shredding and weaving enterprises. Other students have secured placements in a local equine centre, Tesco and undertaking a coaching skills placement with Blind Sports.

 

Community Visits

During the summer months we provided 38 community visits in over 9 counties around Ireland. These visits were impacted by covid as many businesses would not facilitate work placements. However, the team adapted the visits and supported the participants to interview people in different work places of interest to them. The students interviewed staff in a local ETB, a garden centre, a hotel, Pennys, a café and a music academy and a shredding facility.

 

Survey

We distributed a survey to see how participants felt about the community visits. 19 people availed of summer provision hours, 18 of whom partook in community visits. Our survey response rate was 94.7%.

The vast majority 76.5% stated that the community visits were their favourite part 66.7% would like contact with ChildVision during holiday times in the future.

The overwhelming majority, 94.4% felt that it helped to reduce their social isolation and nearly 89% of people felt that it helped to improve their employment knowledge and skills.