"Day Opportunities"

I am so glad to have this opportunity to pay tribute to the work of the Day Opportunities team over the years.

As the parent of a young man with a learning disability a major concern was always how he would cope with the challenges of adult life when his special school days would end. Where would he live when we would no longer be able to care for him? What would he do each day that would give him a sense of worth and satisfaction?

In 2002 the question of living accommodation was addressed when our church established Willow Brook, a supported housing scheme in Coleraine.

However, when he left Sandelford school, the question of his daytime activities was faced with some trepidation. As he entered his 20s, Mount Fern Day centre, together with various life skills courses at local colleges and work experience in various retail outlets were all most helpful. However, lacking was a sense of continuity that a regular more secure job could give.

And into this scenario some 25 years ago came Garth and his colleague with a vision for the creation of Day Opportunities for people who in previous generations were regarded as having no place in the workplace.

With their good offices our son was given a job, as a volunteer at first and then on their regular paid staff. And there he went on to work for the next 25 years, enjoying the work and helped and encouraged by his Job Coach from Day Opportunities.

So as a family we have appreciated so much the work of the Day Opportunities team over the years. We are grateful for the opportunity that was given to our son to live a life with purpose and a sense of fulfilment.

And it is my prayer that the work of this programme of the Board may continue and expand so that the learning-disabled community in our midst can rejoice in the opportunities given them.