OT Students volunteering in Errigal Truagh Special Needs

Uainín Connolly, Maria Flood and Mairead O'Toole, three Final Year Occupational Therapy (OT) students in Ulster University Magee (Derry) welcome your support.

In January 2025 we will be volunteering in Errigal Truagh Special Needs Centre in North Monaghan for 5 weeks as part of role emerging placement in a non-traditional setting. We will be providing the service users in the centre with Group Based and individual OT intervention sessions and offering support to staff members as there is limited OT resources available to this fantastic service.

Errigal Truagh Special Needs Parent & Friends Ltd is a non for-profit organisation which has been doing exceptional work for the past 23 years. They provide a Day Activation Centre for adults with physical and intellectual disabilities. In addition to the day centre, support is also offered to local children with Autism through access to sensory facilities in the centre at weekends. The organisation relies heavily on the ongoing generosity of the wider public, and following tremendous fundraising efforts by the local community €1.1 Million was raised to open their new purpose-built centre. With the expansion of services, there is an ongoing need for new resources.

Occupational Therapy is a vital allied health profession that works with individuals to engage in everyday life activities as independently as possible. OTs have a holistic perspective, viewing each individuals physical, cognitive, sensory and psychological needs. Through Occupational Therapy individuals can overcome the barriers to living a fulfilling life.

Our aim is to work with the service users and staff members over a 5-week period to enhance the engagement of service users in meaningful activities of daily life. We will provide group based and individual OT Intervention sessions and use a variety of therapeutic techniques to address sensory, cognitive and emotional challenges faced by the service users. We aim to educate the wonderful staff members and assist them in their efforts to ensure the service users continue to meet their full potential. Following our placement, we aim to have the resources and equipment in place to allow the staff to continue to implement our strategies.

We are fundraising to cover the cost of essential resources required for our placement in Errigal Truagh Special Needs. Your donation however small will help us purchase necessary equipment and materials for our OT interventions with the service users.

All equipment purchased and any surplus funds raised will go directly to the Centre for ongoing use after our placement.

We look forward to your support!

Uainín Connolly (Scotstown, Co. Monaghan)

Maria Flood (Truagh, Co. Monaghan)

Mairead O’ Toole (Ballymacnab, Co. Armagh)