Donegal Horizons CLG
Donegal Horizons CLG., delivering services in Co. Donegal, North West of Ireland; provides a comprehensive range of support and services to individuals with (mild -moderate) intellectual disabilities; through a network of Community-based projects. We have 2 bases the County – serving the Inishowen Peninsula and the greater Letterkenny areas.
Our Head Office is situated in Unit 2, Grand Central, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, F92 P9XC
We have in total 61 adults ranging from 18 years to 48 years, availing of their own person-centred, HSE-funded programme on either a full-time or part-time basis.
Opening Doors, Opening Minds
Since 2005, Donegal Horizons CLG. has been a committed Community / Voluntary organisation; fully funded by the Day Service Supports Dept. of the Health Service Executive (HSE West) in Co. Donegal, R.O.I.; to provide services of excellence to school leavers and adults of all ages with intellectual disabilities. Our aim is to enrich and improve the quality of the lives of our referred individuals which in turn impacts favourably on families and the wider society where inclusion and equality of opportunity is at the core.
Donegal Horizons CLG. is primarily a training organisation and provides accredited training and enrichment learning opportunities – both in the classroom and through meaningful ‘hands on’ Community placement experience(s) which, if possible, can progress to supported paid (usually part time) employment in the open labour market locally. Each individualised programme is based on the individual’s own aspirations, wishes and abilities – and on a specially – created Person Centred Plan.
Through our various Projects, our referred clients can enjoy and benefit from opportunities in their own local Communities promoting self-determination, maximisation of personal potential, true community integration; all governed by the principles of the HSE New Directions initiative. New Directions is one of the key policy documents contained in the HSE Transforming Lives Programme. It assists and directs service providers like us to secure the well-being and the futures of our clients living with intellectual disability
Training
Providing clients in the classroom or in real life settings (sheltered in the first instance – i.e. within the organisation); with work competencies and specific vocational and life skills through structured and quality – assured training. Delivered by a qualified and committed training and community opportunity staff Team; study timetables correspond to the schools/colleges academic year (September – June). Student feedback is consistent and continuous – instilling confidence, boosting self-esteem and maximising independence. All achievement is carefully recorded in the client’s Record of Achievement / CV which is a great source of pride for all involved!
Community Engagement
Clients follow a realistic and achievable vocational path through placement experiences and opportunities with employers / businesses close to their own homes; trained, inducted, supported and monitored by our Community Services Team. The preferred and hoped – for outcome can be a position of paid employment (usually part time) in the open labour market for each client who seeks this.
Specialised Learning Resources
For organisations which provide training and services to individuals with intellectual disabilities, appropriate learning resources, we acknowledge, are relatively difficult to find. The parent Company – New Horizons Partnership Ltd (Northern Ireland) has designed and developed a series of learning resources and programmes used to teach adults with intellectual disabilities in the areas of work and travel. NewHop Skills for Work consists of eight units of general work skills content and four units of vocationally-orientated content. NewHop Skills for Travel is a complete travel training programme for organisations working with people with intellectual disabilities, who wish to teach their end users safe, independent travel.
Donegal Horizons CLG. can also train the staff of other organisations similar to ours; to deliver this quality – assured Independent Travel Training Programme through a Train the Trainer course (delivered R.O.I and UK-wide).
In addition, we can design and deliver bespoke training to your organisation or your clients just give us a call and make enquiries!
Our values are:
- We celebrate the potential of people; their individuality and talents.
- We value the life of every person with an intellectual disability.
- We respect different people’s opinions and ways of living.
- We don’t think that people with intellectual disabilities should be separate.
- We believe that people with an intellectual disability must be treated fairly and have the same rights as every other citizen.
- We support people with an intellectual disability in having their say and being heard, especially those who communicate in different ways.
- We believe that we are all entitled to make choices in how we lead our lives.
- We understand that in maximising the individual with an intellectual disability’s independence; positive effects can be achieved for the whole family and society as a whole.
Donegal Horizons CLG believes community exclusion and disability discrimination has no place in society. We exist to serve individuals and families living with intellectual disability, offering support to rebuild/reimagine their lives and progress to a positive future