Locals celebrate Cedar Foundation's 70th Birthday
by STACEY HEANEY
Ballymacoss staff pictured at the birthday party.
Hilary Palmer with Manager of Ballymacoss House Colette Speight and Elaine Ferguson cutting the 7Oth Birthday cake.
THE Cedar Foundation, a Northern Ireland based charity, recently celebrated turning 70 years old, with a special event held by Lisburn residents.
Resident David Polley enjoys the birthday celebrations.
Formerly known as NICOD (The Northern Ireland Council for Orthopedic Development), the organisation was set up in 1941 and has been growing and developing ever since. Today Cedar delivers a range of services that enable children and adults who have disabilities to get the most out of life and to be fully included members of their communities.
Cedar works with over 1,500 Service Users every year across 23 locations in Northern Ireland. The Cedar Foundation has been marking this special birthday with a series of celebration events across the Province.
Cedar's Ballymacoss House, a residential home in Lisburn, held a special celebration to mark the occasion. Ballymacoss has 12 single occupancy en-suite rooms designed for people who have physical disabilities and/or brain injury. Residents, family members, staff as well as partners from the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust attended the birthday party. Cutting the 70th birthday cake at the event were Ballymacoss residents Hilary Palmer and Elaine Ferguson.
Hilary, who has been living at Ballymacoss since 1995 following a stroke, said; "I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't come to Ballymacoss. The staff are a great team of people and I enjoy socialising with the other residents."
The Cedar Foundation works in partnership with people who have disabilities providing quality support, care, accommodation and training services. To find out more call Cedar's Head Office on 028 9066 6188 or log onto www.cedar-foundation.org.
stacey.heaney@ulsterstar.co.uk
Ulster Star
16/12/2011
