An exhibition featuring the arts and craft based creations of Andrea Edwards and friends, who all attend Killadeas Day Care and Day Opportunities, was held recently at Enniskillen Castle. The exhibition was widely attended by service users, parents, families, Western Trust management and staff, members of the public and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, who hosted the event.

Councillor Siobhán Currie, Chairperson of the Council attended the official opening of the exhibition, where Andrea cut the ribbon with great pride and enthusiasm. Councillor Currie spent considerable time with Andrea learning about all Andrea’s fictional characters from ninjas to super heros and was very impressed with her wonderful imagination and her ability to bring this ‘to life.

Andrea explained that she likes to make her projects as this shows what she can do. “I make my projects out of cardboard and paper by doing this I am helping towards recycling and to save our planet. I feel proud of myself as my projects show off what I am capable of doing even though I am visually impaired. My advice to others is do not let others judge you for the ability you have, it’s important that you believe in yourself and keep hope alive!”

Patricia Griffith, Day Care Manager at Killadeas said: “Andrea was keen for others to also have the chance to showcase their talents, so we included a selection of pieces created by service users within all eight facilities in Killadeas Day Care. We were extremely grateful for the service users to have an opportunity to share their creations in an exhibition, which was open to the public. The exhibition was not only an example of talent and creativity but also showcased the excellent joint working between Killadeas Day Care and the Council, which has being going from strength to strength over the last number of years. We are especially grateful to Matthew Nevin and Chloe Herron, Access and Inclusion Department, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, for their support in organising this wonderful event.”

Patricia continued: “It is also important to note the support that our service users have received from various Arts and Craft tutors in South West College.”

“We, at Killadeas Day Care and Day Opportunities place a huge emphasis on our service users being as involved as possible in their local community, this exhibition is an excellent example of how wonderful things can happen when we all work together,” Patricia added.