Exhibition features portrait of inspiring Mayo woman
GENIO has launched a photography and film exhibition which illustrates some of the positive outcomes for vulnerable people in the Galway-Mayo region.
The Facing Change exhibition is now open and runs to the end of December at the Galway City Museum.
Genio is marking 10 years of collaboration with government to reform social services in a person-centered, sustainable direction for people with disabilities, mental health difficulties, dementia and those who are long-term homeless.
The exhibition showcases the impact of this work which celebrates inspiring people across Ireland who have been supported to overcome challenges and lead a life of their own choosing in the community. It comprises 10 portraits and 10 short films of people with disabilities, mental health difficulties, dementia and those who have experienced homelessness.
Bernie Fox from Ballina is pictured after her move from Áras Attracta to her own home in the community, with support from the HSE and Genio.
Christina Irwin, area manager of Mayo Community Living, said: “Bernie is really availing of everything the community has to offer. She’s volunteering in the local St. Vincent de Paul shop. This is part of the plan to develop her CV and experience the workplace and that’s going extremely well for her and she’s very excited.”
Marion Lally from Galway city also features in one of the portraits. Marion received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s six years ago and has received an individualised homecare package through the HSE.
“It’s a struggle, but home is home no matter what. I want to keep her here with me as long as possible,” Ronnie Lally, Marion’s husband, stated.
To date, projects to the value of over €6m have been funded through Genio in the Galway-Mayo region (contributed to by the Department of Health/HSE, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government/local authorities, and the Atlantic Philanthropies).
Some examples of service reforms being currently carried out in the region include:
• Helping build community-based, person-centred models of support for people with disabilities and mental health challenges to replace out-dated, congregated institutions, including Áras Attracta in Swinford.
• Working with the Galway City Local Authority, the local HSE mental health and addiction staff and NGOs to expand the roll out of the national Housing First programme to solve long-term homelessness in Galway.
• Focusing resources in Galway and Mayo as part of the national roll out of the Individual Placement and Support programme to help people with enduring mental health challenges into mainstream employment.
Said John Healy, deputy executive director, Genio: “We are delighted to be bringing the Facing Change exhibition to the Galway-Mayo region where government and Genio have supported projects that have made a real impact on people’s lives over the last 10 years. This is an opportunity to celebrate local and regional projects and the inspiring people who have shared their stories. There has been a lot of progress nationally and within the Galway-Mayo region in delivering improved supports, which crucially put those who use services at the centre of reform efforts.”
Iggy Ó Muircheartaigh, President Emeritus, NUI Galway, and board member, Genio, said: “This exhibition marks a significant milestone in the reform of services being delivered in the Galway-Mayo region as well as nationally. The stories represented in these portraits and films illustrate the change that can happen in people’s lives when they have access to supports that are community-based and personalised to their needs.
“Genio has developed a cutting-edge approach to reform which is now advancing in Europe and which has been profiled in the United States. This is why we will be bringing this exhibition to Brussels in 2020.”
The exhibition opened in Dublin April 2019 and has visited Cork and Donegal to date. It will be open to the public at Galway City Museum until the end of December and travels to Brussels in early 2020.