Monday, 30 January 2012 13:22

Prosper Fingal has been supporting adults with intellectual disability and their families since 1978. Last year, the organisation decided to further expand its provision to the most southern part of the region. In preparation for this planned development in 2012, it took an innovative approach to connecting with the communities of Howth, Sutton and Baldoyle. The organisation hosted its first community information sharing evening on Wednesday, 25th January last. The event, which was attended by a large number of community leaders and activists from a range of groups, took place in the Marine Hotel, Sutton. It was organised with the goal of building partnerships within the communities in preparation for its latest expansion. According to Prosper Fingal’s Director of Services, Pat Reen, “we appreciate that these are very difficult times to commit to any new service development. However, we identified the lack of appropriate opportunities and supports for people with disabilities in the greater Howth/Sutton region. With the support of the local people and agencies, we hope to create a very inclusive community development model that brings people with disabilities into the centre of new opportunities.” Prosper Fingal, which is a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation, has services in Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, Swords, Malahide and Portmarnock from which it supports 254 adults with intellectual disability and their families. The aim of this new project is to provide individuals with the supports they need to access and connect with their local community. This is in keeping with the organisation’s core purpose to “support each individual to live the life they choose, in the same way and same places as everybody else”.