Down Syndrome Cork’s Social Farm project Field of Dreams has launched its new Educational/Training Programme with celebrations which coincide with the fantastic achievement of current students.

From September 2019, Field of Dreams will be working with Down Syndrome Ireland in offering Ability Programmes that are bespoke for people with Down syndrome. Debbie Kelleher, Care Manager issues an invitation to visit the Field of Dreams in Curraheen, “We are celebrating the launch of our extended Education and Training Programme with an Open Evening on 10th April at 6.30pm. All are welcome as you are never too young to plan your future.”

But there is a second reason to celebrate as the current students have just received the news that they have passed the QQI Level 3 modules offered in partnership with Cork’s ETB. Field of Dreams has piloted two strands of training since opening its doors to participants in September 2017, one of these strands working towards QQI accreditation. In a stunning social and horticultural farm setting, funded through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s social farm programme, adults with Down syndrome from 21 years can avail of training, work experience and employment supports.

Debbie continues “We have worked very closely with Down Syndrome Ireland and with our own Speech and Language Therapist Míde Kearney. Going forward our programme will closely align with DSI’s Ability programme. However, we will retain our unique horticultural training. Thanks to Míde, we have adopted a Total Communication approach with visual tools to improve comprehension and fluency.”

The new plan sees participant capacity double from the current 8 to a potential 22 people.

More information on the Open Evening available on https://fieldofdreamscork.ie. While all are welcome, Field of Dreams is asking visitors to let them know they are coming by emailing Debbie d.kelleher@fieldofdreamscork.ie . This, we are reliably informed, is to make sure there is enough cake for everyone on the night!