Bluestack Special Needs Foundation Government funding delights CEO

The CEO of the Bluestack Special Needs Foundation expressed her delight after the organisation was granted €138,950 from the Disability and Participation Awareness Fund. 

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, announced that 22 innovative projects will receive funding of €2.8 million under the latest round of the Disability and Participation Awareness Fund, including the Bluestack Special Needs Foundation, based in Donegal Town.

The Bluestack Special Needs Foundation are an organisation that was founded in 2002, originally meeting for hikes at the Bluestack Mountains, and fundraised to improve services available to children with additional needs. In 2006, the organisation became a registered charity, and moved into their current offices in the south of Donegal Town in 2008.

Grants were awarded to the Bluestack Special Needs Foundation and other organisations that provided for projects to support people with disabilities to take part in community, sports and physical activities, arts and cultural activities, social enterprises, and neurodiversity initiatives. 

There are also employment skills courses for people with disabilities and stroke rehabilitation courses.

Bluestack Special Needs Foundation CEO, Laura Cassidy, told Donegal Live: “We are absolutely delighted to have received funding. It was a lot of hard effort on the grant application on behalf of our team. 

“It is going to dramatically improve our services. We will be able to provide more work opportunities and work experience opportunities for our adults attending our services.”

Minister Foley commented: “These projects will offer new and exciting opportunities for people with disabilities to show their talents and abilities and to reach their true potential.”