Fundraising coffee morning in Mayo to support independence for people with disabilities

RehabCare Castlebar, the care division of the Rehab Group which supports more than 800 people across the region, is hosting a fundraising event called A Cup of Care on Friday, October 20.

This event, being held at RehabCare centres in every community in Ireland, will raise vital funds to further the organisation's mission of enabling individuals with disabilities to lead independent lives and pursue their goals and ambitions.

The coffee morning promises a warm and inviting atmosphere for attendees to connect, share stories and, most importantly, show their support for a cause that touches the lives of thousands.

RehabCare has been at the forefront of providing invaluable services to the disabled community for more than seven decades. With a presence in every county in Ireland, the organisation's dedicated team works tirelessly to ensure that individuals with disabilities have the resources and support they need to lead fulfilling, independent lives.

The Castlebar Cup of Care coffee mornings will be held in two locations in Castlebar at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 20: RehabCare Resource Centre on Breaffy Road, and Connections Service located at No. 7, Davitt Lane, Castlebar.

RehabCare's day service caters for 45 individuals ranging from 18 to 65 years. In addition, RehabCare operates three community services, which are based in Castlebar itself, Claremorris and Westport.

RehabCare Connections is a dedicated and inclusive day service designed to provide support, enrich lives, and foster independence for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Service user Catriona, who attends the service, commented: “I have become more independent in my local community. I was supported in road safety and now I can accesses all favourite activities independently. With the help of all the team at RehabCare, I have my own egg business where I hand designs egg cartons to package my free-range eggs. I sell them locally and in the RehabCare services.”

The proceeds from A Cup of Care will directly benefit local RehabCare centres, programmes and initiatives in Castlebar.

Gráinne Fogarty, director of RehabCare, said: “RehabCare is a not-for-profit organisation that has been delivering services across the country since 1949. Today, RehabCare provides life-changing services to 4,000 children and adults with physical and sensory disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism, mental health issues and older persons across all our service delivery models.”

She added: “The last three years have been incredibly challenging across the entire health and social care sector. Our staff and service users have had to adapt and change to circumstances outside of their control, from the impact of Covid-19 to the housing and cost-of-living crises that have impacted society so adversely.

“We all know the gaps that exist in services for children and adults with disabilities and the damage this is doing to people's quality of life. In delivering RehabCare's strategic plan, we seek to address some of these gaps. We are developing several children's residential services to respond to the ever-increasing demand for these services.

“All our services are designed to support individuals and their families to sustain these individuals at home as part of their families for as long as possible. All the services we offer are committed to empowering those we support to live the life of their choosing, and all our staff are focused on breaking down any barriers that prevent this from happening. We put individuals with disabilities at the heart of their communities.

“The demand for our services continues to grow, and we want to continue to provide the kinds of services that make a real difference in the lives of the people we support, which is why we are asking for support. Every day our staff support individuals, sometimes in the most challenging circumstances – none more than the challenges they have faced over the last three years. We are asking people to come along on the day for a cup of coffee at our Castlebar services or donate online.”

Individuals, businesses, and organisations interested in supporting A Cup of Care can attend an event and enjoy a coffee while making a meaningful contribution; make a direct donation by going to www.idonate.ie/event/acupofcare and choosing your local service from the participating services; and share the event details on social media using the hashtag #ACupOfCare.