Enable Ireland service owners, family members, staff and stakeholders gathered in Midleton recently to launch a fundraising campaign for a new Adult Services Hub called Mill View.
The charity, a disability services provider, purchased a property on the Cork Road in Midleton and following confirmation of planning permission from Cork County Council, work began earlier this year to redevelop and modernise the bungalow. The new development will include modernisation of the existing building and the addition of purpose-built accessible features for individuals with disabilities, including two fully adapted personal care rooms, a sensory room, therapy room, computer room, adapted kitchen and outdoor area.
KEY FACILITY
According to Enable Ireland CEO John O’Sullivan the new hub will be a specialised, community-based day centre for individuals with physical, sensory, or intellectual disabilities and will focus on promoting independence, community inclusion, and personal goal achievement.
“This development aligns with the government’s ‘New Directions’ programme which moves away from traditional centre-based care towards personalised, community-included supports,” he noted.
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley, who also attended the launch, said that the new adult services hub represents ‘a transformative step for the people of Midleton, a place where people of all abilities can learn, grow, and feel at home’.
East Cork councillor, Ann Marie Ahern was also in attendance at the launch.
Speaking at the event which was held at the Talbot Midleton Hotel, 23-year old local man and hub representative, Jack Macfarlane, outlined the importance of the facility.
“On behalf of the group of us who will be attending services in the hub, I am delighted at the number of people who have turned out to show their support. All of us who live in the East Cork area are delighted that our commute time has been reduced enabling us to spend longer doing the things we like such as music, art, computer training and outings from the new Mill View Hub”.
FUNDING SHORTFALL
The goal is for this to be an A-rated building. Some funding to cover sustainable elements of the project have been secured through SE System’s Community Fund and EirGrid’s Interconnector Community Benefit Fund.
Including the purchase costs of the property, the overall project cost is just over €2 million. However, a funding shortfall of €330,000 remains. The charity is appealing to companies to nominate Enable Ireland as its charity partner or to consider this project for fundraising events or campaigns.
Once the project is completed, the building will have capacity for around 20 adults from the north and east Cork area. Individuals attending the hub, like Jack Macfarlane, will benefit from tailored supports, such as training, education, social activities, and personal development, guided by person-centred planning frameworks.
Enable Ireland currently operates three Cork hubs located in Ballincollig, Ballintemple and Carrigaline. It also provides vital respite services for adults from Ard Na Mara House in Ladysbridge.
You can support Enable Ireland’s Mill View Hub by visiting https://enableireland.ie/millview or by contacting Regional Fundraising Manager Maria Desmond on 087 7905029.
