Exciting times for Rathmoyle Adult Centre and The Base in Ballycastle

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has held a special celebration at the Rathmoyle site in Ballycastle.

The event marked the relocation of the Day Opportunities Base to the seafront location and the completion of refurbishment work within the Adult Centre – bringing both learning disability services together on the same site in the town for the first time.

A highlight of the day saw service users from the Adult Centre perform a fantastic Makaton song for guests as they sang and signed along to The Beatles classic, Here Comes The Sun. Assisted by support staff and led by Speech and Language Therapist Maeve Devine, they were delighted to put on a show for friends, family members and members of the wider Northern Trust team.

Success

Adult Centre Manager Pat Brown said: “Our Open Day was a great success and we were delighted that our service users were the stars of the show. They have worked very hard to learn lots of Makaton signs which has greatly aided their communication skills and you could see how happy they were to perform together.

“At the centre we very much look at what we can do, not what we can’t do, and we want everyone to feel they are valued and that they have something to offer.”

Robyn Lennox, Head of Service for Learning Disability Day Services, thanked everyone from buildings-based and community-based services for enabling the developments on the Rathmoyle site.

“Our estates colleagues were unbelievably supportive and completed works both within the Base and Adult Centre to the highest standard. This wonderful Trust site at the seafront can now benefit so many more people with learning disabilities,” she said.

Mural

The event also provided an opportunity to officially mark the completion of a fabulous new outdoor mural at the centre. It was carried out as part of an Arts Care project by local artist Louie Winward working alongside service users. Inspired by a visit to Wild Ireland, the colourful scene features lots of wildlife and nature, and it’s a colourful addition to Rathmoyle’s outside space.

The Base, which offers adults with a learning disability a safe, spacious and homely place to meet and socialise together, is now located in a repurposed workshop building in the grounds of the Rathmoyle site.

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Ciaran McQuillan, met with users on the day as they showed him around their new facility.

Independence

The drop-in space aims to promote their independence and features a fully functional kitchen space and an adjoining common room.

Day Opportunities Programme Manager Garth Anderson said: “We have ten Base buildings across the Trust and the whole concept is that it is a place for people to meet, make friends, socialise and be included in their local community.

“We have relocated from the top end of the town in Ballycastle down here where there’s more recreational opportunities and we’re closer to the transport routes, the beach and cafés. We had a great day at our official launch along with our colleagues in Rathmoyle as well, and we’re really looking to seeing the whole Rathmoyle site go from strength to strength.”

13th August 2024