Sensory Fun with Friends in the hunt for National Inclusion Award
By Mary Dennehy
A PARENT-led group that provides a diverse range of fun activities for children with sensory needs has been named as a finalist in the National Inclusion Awards.
Sensory Fun with Friends was created last year by local parents Lynn Byrne, Eileen Birchall and Leone McCarney in response to a lack of activities that all of the siblings within a family could do together.
Voluntary committee members of Sensory Fun with Friends and local parents
Speaking with The Echo, co-founder Eileen Birchall said: “Our group is a non-profit group that organises activities and events for children and teens with complex needs and their friends and family.
“We are honoured to be considered for the National Inclusion Awards.
“We are so delighted to be recognised and to be in a position to represent our local community.”
She added: “Disability inclusion is high on our agenda and we have made strong connections within the community that has in turn opened a bigger world for our children who might otherwise be excluded.”
Some of the activities organised include pony lessons in Fettercairn Youth Horse Project, Yoga with Tracy Lennon of Evergreen Healing, swimming lessons, sensory circuits and creative art and a teen youth club in Killinarden Community Centre.
A Sensory Skate with South Dublin on Ice is also held each year, alongside a Sensory Friendly Panto with the Civic Theatre and an Easter Egg Hunt in local parks.
The team wished to thank the South Dublin County Sports Partnership for its guidance and support.
The National Inclusion Awards are run by Cara, a national sports organisation that campaigns to ensure people with disabilities have equal access to and awareness of opportunities in sport and physical activity.
Sensory Fun with Friends have been named a finalist in the Disability Sports Club category.
Winners will be announced on November 28.
For further details on the group visit the Sensory Fun with Friends Facebook page or email sensoryfunwithfriends [at] gmail [dot] com
