European Social Fund (ESF) case study - The Cedar Foundation - Inclusion Works 4
The Cedar Foundation’s work is aimed at adults with physical disability, including complex congenital and acquired disabilities; brain injury; diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or long term health conditions.
Participant's story
Inclusion Works is a person-centred service supporting individuals to design their own programmes around their needs and aspirations, building confidence and independence to meet their employability and inclusion goals. The project is part funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014–2020 and the Department for the Economy.
After graduating from university with a degree in Health Physiology, this participant experienced a brain injury. Further complications arose because of a tumour.
After rehab work provided by CBIT (Child Brain Injury Trust), the participant was referred to Cedar for support to guide and plan what she wanted to do long term. Feeling lost after her first degree to what she could do, she was given significant support and guidance by her Case Officer (CO).
Enrolling in university
The participant decided to enrol onto a second degree at the same university, studying Cardiology. Her CO supported her to source information about Student Finance and Support. The CO also arranged a ‘needs’ assessment which he attended alongside the participant to discuss and agree support needs.
As a result, the participant worked hard and completed her degree with support from Cedar, achieving a First Class Honours Degree in Cardiology and is currently employed in a private hospital.