2012-10-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — Thirty blind and partially sighted local children have benefitted from a series of challenging activities designed to develop their existing skills and independence, thanks to funding from the George Best Belfast City Airport Community Fund.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) ran three week-long programmes to give the young people, aged between 10 and 17, the chance to experiment learning opportunities through taxing outdoor activities.
The trips took place at the Share Holiday Village in Fermanagh after significant funding from the airport’s Community Fund, which fines airlines for operating late flights.
Richard Moore from RNIB said:
“52,000 people experience serious sight loss in Northern Ireland and the RNIB provides emotional and practical support to those living with visual impairment.
“Programmes like this can help boost a child’s confidence, and we are extremely grateful to Belfast City Airport for the funding awarded.
“Many of the kids who attended the residential were, for the first time, responsible for completing their own shopping, ensuring they stayed within the set budget and had enough food to cook all their own meals as a group.
“As well as being an enjoyable experience with activities such as windsurfing and archery, it goes without saying that this was a hugely beneficial exercise which will have a huge impact on how these young people move forward with the varying degrees of sight loss they experience.”
Ruth Morgan, Communications Executive at Belfast City Airport, said:
“I am delighted to see the airport’s Community Fund going towards such a great cause.
“The help and support provided by the RNIB in Northern Ireland is incredible and activities such as these are fantastic for encouraging and developing the independence levels of the young people who took part.
“This was also a wonderful opportunity for three of the RNIB partially sighted volunteers who were able to gain youth and group work experience, and we are thrilled to have played a part.”
To date, the Airport’s Community Fund has supported almost 50 local projects in the neighbouring area.
For more information on how your group can apply to the Belfast City Airport Community Fund, contact communityfund@belfastcityairport.com
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Some of the kids enjoying outdoor activities designed to develop their existing skills and independence, such as windsurfing