THE Department of Employment and Learning is working with the Cedar Foundation to promote initiatives to support people with disabilities, according to DEL Minister Dr Stephen Farry.
He made the comments during a celebration event and open day to recognise the success of the Cedar Foundation in Derry-Londonderry.
The event, held in Cedar’s Springtown premises, celebrated the Foundation’s endeavours in delivering services to young people with disabilities, and their individual achievements in education, training, employment and involvement in the community.
Dr Farry said: “My department has enjoyed a strong and positive working relationship with the Cedar Foundation and we are currently working in partnership with representatives from Cedar and other disability organisations on the development of a new Employment Strategy for Disabled People in Northern Ireland.
“The Cedar Foundation is an innovative, forward thinking organisation, whose work and dedication is improving the lives, and specifically the employment prospects, of manypeople with a range of disabilities. They are to be congratulated on their achievements and today’s exhibition is testament to the life-changing work that they do.”
The Cedar Foundation’s services are supported by the Northern Ireland European Social Fund (ESF) Programme 2007-13 and the Department for Employment and Learning.
The minister continued: “The Northern Ireland ESF Programme has provided us with the opportunity to work with innovative organisations such as the Cedar Foundation to promote initiatives that make a positive impact upon the livesof people with disabilities and assist them to overcome personal barriers to employment.”
Stephen Mathews, chief executive of Cedar, said: “Cedar’s Vocational and Employability Service has made a substantial impact on the employability and inclusion of people with complex disabilities.
“We are pleased to report that 70% of young people with disabilities completing their programme gain relevant qualifications and Cedar have helped 863 people with disabilities to work towards their goals since 2010.”