The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin has awarded a grant of €50,000 to the Brain Injury Foundation in Camlough to support the formation and operation of a new cross-border Learning Partnership between BIF and Castleblayney Carers Housing Association.
Frank Dolaghan, Chair of BIF, explained:” Forward Together is a new initiative which brings together the work of two long established charities, one on each side of the border. Castleblayney Carers Housing Association have particular expertise and experience in addressing the accommodation needs of people with disabilities while BIF has been providing a programme of social, leisure and recreational activities for both brain injury survivors and carers.
In Castleblayney the Carers Housing Association has built a residential group home which it leases to the Health Service Executive and an adjoining complex of 10 two bedroomed bungalows for people with various disabilities including brain injury which it directly manages. Their ongoing vision is to use the final part of their site to provide a social centre for their residents and other local people with disabilities and their carers.
Starting in Altnaveigh House twelve years ago and then moving to a new centre of excellence at Camlough in 2018 the Brain Injury Foundation has always been interested in exploring the potential for the provision of new independent living resources especially for people with brain injury.
Using the good offices of Senator Robbie Gallagher and Carol Lambe of Monaghan County Council the two groups were introduced to each other and following a period of consultation and visits agreed that there would be considerable potential for the partners to learn from each other and so both are delighted to have been awarded this significant funding.
Sheila Comiskey Chair of Castleblayney Carers said: We were extremely impressed by Our House in Camlough when we visited. We loved its accessibility, parking, design and layout and the very wide range of activities provided and the fact that the users of the facilities are the owners of the premises. We were particularly impressed by the pub with no beer! Working together on this application has already been a learning experience for both parties and we are looking forward to further learning and support as we use the funding to develop our plans in Castleblayney.