IN 2008, when Noreen Kettyles walked into a room full of 15 women, caring for their children with extreme learning disabilities, her life was instantly changed forever.

The founder of MeUnLtd in Fermanagh had spent 20 years living away from the County.

But after her marriage broke down she had returned, hoping that things would change for the better.

Thankfully, they did.

Her opportunity to develop a programme to help female carers of children with extreme needs has not only changed her life, but the lives of so many in this area whom she has supported.

It’s no surprise then that she is one of the Fermanagh Trust’s Community Heroes.

Noreen returned to Fermanagh around 10 years ago with her two children.

Now living in Bellanaleck, she came back with the benefit of 20 years’ experience in the management consultancy world.

“I had developed a lot of training programmes for community organisations,” she explained, “I had been doing that in the community sector for the best part of 20 years. But then my life took a turn for the worse.

“I had four to five years where things just didn’t go very well in my life and I took a year out from work.” Her saving grace came when she was presented with the opportunity to develop a programme to support women carers with children who had learning disabilities here.

“I researched it. And when it came to it, I walked into that room for the beginning of an eight week programme and my life just changed.

“There were 15 women there in front of me. All suffering greatly. I saw myself in them and I wanted to help.” These female carers had children ranging in ages from three right up to 18.

“Some of them had been suffering a long time. A few of them had only come on stream with their children’s diagnosis but others had been caring for years.

“The women we are talking about here do not have children with just mild needs or learning disabilities, these children are at the extreme end of the spectrum.

“Because of the huge responsibility they were carrying they had lost their identity to a huge extent.” After the first eight-week course, a social enterprise was set up: MeUnLtd.

This was then adapted and opened out to all the care sectors.

Through her work, Noreen is now responsible for eight personal development programmes which she sells to the Health and Social Care sector. On top of this, there are 13 Me-Time groups offering support on an ongoing basis.

“I’m very tired!” she confesses, “This is a busy time of the year, from September to June.

“It’s a real challenge keeping everything going. While there is the commercial side of what we do, there are also the groups who need our support -- that is the side of our work that we don’t get any funding for. So any profits from the programmes go into that.” The main aim of Noreen’s work is to empower people to make positive changes in their lives, just as she has.

“I want to give these people something to look forward to. Something stimulating and new.

“They could be doing yoga one week and sky diving the next. It’s all about pushing them out of their comfort zone and helping them to feel alive again.” Of all her achievements, Noreen says she is most proud of being able to provide flexible employment to some of her unpaid carers.

“We have trained them up to deliver our programmes,” she explains, “We have identified inspirational people who have participated in our programmes and they are now delivering them for others.” She is also proud of the official recognition MeUnLtd has received over the years.

“It’s nice to be recognised -- just like with this Community Heroes award. Not that we seek recognition. But it is nice to know that we are making a difference in the community.” A big part of Noreen’s philosophy is that you should always practice what you preach.

To that end, she feels it is important to always focus on her own personal development too, such as her climb of Mount Kilimanjaro last Christmas.

“That was for the Children’s Hospice here,” she explains, “It was very tough -- nearly as tough as running MeUnLtd! Just kidding!

“But it was physically and mentally challenging. Particularly the last day, because of the altitude.

“I wanted to be at the summit for Christmas morning. We left at midnight on Christmas Eve in pitch darkness and with a temperature of -15.

“My lungs were finding it very very difficult with the thin air.

“It was very slow and painful. It took seven hours to reach the summit. We were there at 6.45am.

“I raised £4,700. Handing that over to the hospice made it all worthwhile.

“I think you have to set an example to the carers. We are teaching them to get back to looking after themselves and pushing themselves. Making them believe they can achieve things even with the added responsibilities that they have.

“So I feel it is important that all our facilitators are inspiring people too.

“They have to be willing to try something new and push themselves just as they encourage the carers to. It’s important to stay on top of your own personal development. So much of what we do depends on us being healthy and well ourselves.”