Council's Disability Champion attends volunteer event
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Pictured with volunteers for Leonard Cheshire Disability are: (centre I.r) Councillor Margaret Tolerton, Disability Champion for Lisburn City Council; Lady Eames, Chairperson of Leonard Cheshire Disability NI and Ms. Tonya McCormac, Director of Operations Northern Ireland for Leonard Cheshire Disability. Darren Kidd/Presseye. |
COUNCILLOR Margaret Tolerton, Disability Champion for Lisburn City Council, recently attended the 'Leonard Cheshire Disability Volunteer - Thank You' event at Lagan Valley Island.
Lady Eames, Chairperson of Leonard Cheshire Disability NI, attended the event and presented volunteers with a memento for their services to local communities.
Mrs. Tolerton said: "It is very important that charities such as 'Leonard Cheshire Disability' are supported. Volunteers bring a unique personal quality to the services provided by organisations, adding their personalities and making a difference to individuals' lives.
"It was an honour to attend this event, meet the volunteers first hand and celebrate the work, which they undertake on a regular basis.
"The Council promotes positive attitudes regarding disability and helps to ensure appropriate measures are in place within both the Council and the local community to do so. It continues to work in partnership with local groups, networks and charities such as Leonard Cheshire Disability as part of its work. If your organisation or group plan to undertake a project to address the needs of those individuals with a disability, as one of the Council's Disability Champions I would be very willing to work with you."
Ms Tonya McCormac, Director of Operations Northern Ireland for Leonard Cheshire Disability, said: "Our charity provides support services for adults with disabilities. Through this event, we can publicly acknowledge the outstanding work that is undertaken by our volunteers in helping those with a disability have a better quality of life.
"In Northern Ireland, in partnership with our volunteers we have six supported living services, a number of community support projects, as well as a disability resource centre in Omagh."
Mrs. Tolerton added: "Leonard Cheshire Disability is also the lead partner in a new province-wide community based project 'Be Safe, Stay Safe' which aims to promote personal and community safety to vulnerable members of our community, with particular focus on people with disabilities. It supports those with a disability to become involved with a network of people to give them the opportunity to make real change within their own area and throughout Northern Ireland."
For further information on the charity, please log onto www.lcdisability.org or telephone 9024 6247.
To find out more about the work being undertaken by the Council or for further information on the Council's Disability Champions please contact Stephen Malcolm, Equality Officer on 9250 9250 or by email to stephen.malcolm@lisburn.gov.uk.
Ulster Star
28/01/2011
