WORKING HARD. . . Martin Carney
ENNISKILLEN man Martin Carney first began working with disabled people over 20 years ago while he was working as a recreation attendant at the Lakeland Forum, and really he hasn’t looked back since.
“I started working here in 1984,” Martin said this week, having been recently presented with an award in recognition of the ‘exceptional support and opportunities his classes provide to people with disabilities in their local community’.
“There used to be a young fella who was disabled and struggled to get into the swimming pool. So I began helping him to get into the water, getting changed and that kind of thing. That’s how I first got involved in disability work,” he recalled.
A ‘swimability’ programme was set up, and Martin soon became involved.
“They’re just so grateful for everything. Even the tiniest wee thing you do they really appreciate it. I know it takes longer for things to come to fruition. If you’re teaching somebody the breast stroke – a child could pick it up in six weeks. Whereas for a disabled child it could take six months. But you get a great sense of pride doing it.”
Martin moved to work at the Slieve Russell for a period of time, before returning to the Forum to teach swimming.
It was through Roisin Henry who was working with Disability Sport Northern Ireland at the Forum, that Martin got involved with the organisation.
“Roisin was based in the Forum, and it started off that we used to go to the day care centre. We would play games like Boccia and Kurling and we would have leagues going on at the Forum. What we then decided was to get the people down here to the Forum – Roisin was the main instigator, and I was involved in helping her.”
In October 2011, Martin became an Active Communities coach. Active Communities is a Sport Northern Ireland National Lottery Funded initiative that aims to increase participation in sport and physical activity in communities throughout Northern Ireland.
Martin delivers a diverse range of sports and activities in local communities, schools and sports clubs, with a particular focus on providing new and improved opportunities for women and girls, people with a disability and older people to get involved.
As a coach, he is involved in a massive range of activities, and the reaction he gets from those involved delights him.
“Even with people who are severally disabled and in wheelchairs, who can’t move their hands, can’t move their limbs – I get the Boccia ball and put it on a little ramp. Somebody will put the person’s finger on it, and they’ll lift their finger, and the ball goes down and you can see the smile on their face. There are also three women over 100 years of age who I do armchair activities with – they take part and they play Boccia.
“It gets them into the game, it gets them involved, and they love it,” he added.
Asked what he finds the most difficult part of the job, Martin quickly replied, ‘I don’t, I love it.’
“Sometimes I don’t even think its’ a job. You build up relationships with everyone. It’s important that a service like this exists. We’re probably just touching the surface of people who we can get involved,” he continued.
“It’s the social aspect that’s really important too. There are people who would come in just for the chat – they’d talk and talk and tell you everything that’s going on.
“And to those who haven’t yet got involved? I’d say don’t be afraid, come and give it a go. There’s nothing strenuous about it – it’s all fun.”
For further information about Active Communities programme or to request a coach like Martin to go to a venue near you, please contact Billie-Jo Irwin on 02882 245321 or via email billie-jo.irwin@omagh.gov.uk
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