Someone special to visit Something Special

Tomorrow, Something Special which provides an alternative approach to day opportunities for young adults with learning difficulties will receive a visit from Graham Webb, the founder of Graham Webb International a multi-million pound haircare business, eventually sold to Wella.

The reasons for Mr Webb’s visits are many fold. Firstly the successful businessman is in Ireland to support his two daughters, The Webb Sisters, who are currently on tour supporting Leonard Cohen on tour. Also, Graham himself has a keen interest in music and since Something Special uses music as a central aid to learning there is a link, especially since Graham himself overcame a disability to become an international success in business.

As well as visiting Something Special at Eglinton tomorrow night between 7-10pm Graham Webb will also visit Foyleview School at the Playtrail at Belmont on Friday morning.

Graham Webb’s visit to the city came about after the founder of Something Special, Denise Whitehad a series of meetings with the man himself and this will also culminate in her and one lucky student travelling to meet Leonard Cohen in person at his Dublin gig.

The aim of all the learning organisation’s that will receive a visit from Graham Webb is to use music as a tool of consolidating learning, developing concentration, social interaction and participation as well as the promotion of tolerance and social inclusion of adults with learning disabilities.

Denise white said: “ Something Special has grown from strength to strength year on year and we are in very exciting times. The students gain so much from the courses provided, music and art are two of the greatest mediums for expressing ourselves especially for those of us with communication difficulties. Graham has shown that disability is no barrier to success and we hope that his visit to Something Special will inspire the young people to reach their full potential and achieve their goals. We are delighted to welcome someone of Graham’s calibre to Something Special and the North West and look forward to fostering further links with him in the future”.

Something Special was established five years ago by Denise White after spending 15 years working as a learning disability teacher.  She was frustrated with the lack of provision for people with a disability in the North West. Something Special provides an alternative approach to Day Opportunities for young adults with learning difficulties. As an education centre based in Eglinton, Co. Londonderry, we are unique in that we educate young people and adults with learning disabilities through music. Something Special has its premises in Eglinton but we also provide courses from Foyle View School in Derry. We take members from across the North-West, including Limavady, Greysteel, Eglinton and Derry/Londonderry. Students aged 16 and above participate in a range of accredited courses such as Working Towards Independence while focussing on learning and developing new skills in music and creative arts.

“We attracted 16 students from the off set which quickly grew to 30 and we now have 80 with a long waiting list” says Denise.  “Students say if it wasn’t for Something Special they would just spend all day in bed.  Parents and carers too can see a huge difference saying that Something Special is the best thing that ever happened.”