Trust congratulates Greenlight on their UNLtd award

HEALTH Minister Michael McGimpsey recently presented Ann McIlroy, Manager of Greenlight Gateway in Ballycastle with her UNLtd Level II award for entrepreneurship.

Ann received the award for an exciting new initiative called Message in a Bottle which recycles glass bottles and transforms them into personalised wall clocks.

Greenlight Gateway is one of a number of partners that the Northern Trust works with to provide a range of community-based day services for people with a learning disability.

This new partnership will give people with a learning disability the opportunity to take part in work preparation and help develop their vocational skills as part of the Northern Trust's Day Opportunities Programme.

Those involved in the Message in a Bottle project with Greenlight Gateway will be provided with guidance and support to carry out their tasks such as preparing the bottle, melting the bottles, painting the clock faces, applying the clock face hands and packaging the final product.

One of Greenlight's young adults, Jason McBride attended the award ceremony and spoke about the experience he has gained through Greenlight Gateway's social enterprise initiative. He said,

"This is a great idea; I think everyone should try it. I really enjoy the work I do in Greenlight Gateway and look forward to being part of the next new project called 'Memory in a Bottle'. It would be great if other young adults in day centres had the same opportunities as I do".

Garth Anderson is the Day Opportunities Programme Manager with the Trust. He said:

"I would like to offer my congratulations to Ann McIlroy of Greenlight Gateway for winning this award.

"As part of the Northern Trust's Widening Choice and Opportunities Strategy we are delighted to be working in partnership with Greenlight Gateway to offer people with a learning disability the opportunity of vocational activity.

"With Greenlight Gateway the Northern Trust will continue offering people with a learning disability a range of choices focusing on individual strengths, interests and abilities so that they can become more independent and access mainstream activites in the community that are available to everyone else."