Cope Foundation Opens New Community Hub in Midleton

Cope Foundation officially opened their new Community Hub in Midleton on Friday 12th of April. Family, friends, local businesses and members of the wider Midleton community joined staff and people supported by Midleton Community Hub to celebrate the opening at Oatencake Rural on the Old Cork Road.

The community hub model is a totally person centred approach which is all about supporting an individual to make sustainable connections in their community. The Midleton Community Hub will support people to be active citizens and live a life of their choosing in their own community of East Cork. Each person supported in a hub has a unique life plan, carefully developed over time with the support of their network – family members, community partners and staff.

Katie O’Brien, who is supported by Cope Foundation’s Community Hub explained how her life has changed with the help of the hub:

“I am so happy that I don’t have to make a long trip every morning to a service, I can be part of my community in East Cork, do things for myself and see people I know every day. I took part in a community gardening group which I really liked. I am becoming more independent at doing things and going places by myself.’

The Midleton Community Hub supports people like Katie by providing resources and support through access to education and training, transitioning to employment, maximising independence and community inclusion, personal and social development and health and wellbeing.

Deputy County Mayor Cllr Michael Ahern welcomed everyone and officially opened the Hub, followed by Sean Abbott, Chief Executive of Cope Foundation who spoke about the people supported by Cope Foundation and their valued roles in living full active and productive lives in the community. Sean Abbott commented “The community hub model has already generated really positive outcomes for many people we support. It is different and exciting and one of Cope Foundation’s strategic goals is to develop more hubs like this one in local towns and communities across Cork over the coming years.” Cope Foundation supports people with intellectual disability and/or autism to live a life of their choosing, connected and participating in their communities. Right now, the organisation supports 2,350 people right across its network of 69 locations in Cork city and county.

For further information on Cope Foundation please visit cope-foundation.ie.