BEST BUDDIES
Welcome to Best Buddies
We are going to have plenty of society events and gatherings for the year, we will keep you up to date by e-mails and also on Facebook .
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO?
The Best Buddies society aims to create a link with Ability West and work as a liaison, giving students the opportunity to work with young adults with intellectual disabilities. Ability West is a voluntary organisation based in Galway which provides a range of person- centred, high quality, community-based services to people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Ability West will be running a programme labelled 'Best Buddies', which is an American programme founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver in 1989. This programme will give people a chance to befriend a person with an intellectual disability.
If you are matched with a buddy, you commit to meeting with them up to twice a month, and making contact with them once a week, either by text, email or giving them a call. You will undertake a training evening with Ability West here in the college to make sure you are well-informed. What you do with you buddy is up to you - cinema, shopping, bowling, going for luch or a coffee..all the usual things you do with your friends! We also organise a group activity once a month, where all the college students and buddies can come together for an evening of fun, so we can all get to know eachother. Highlights of the year include the christmas party and the Best Buddies Ball in May - a formal event enjoyed by everyone.
However in relation to the society, it is not obligatory to commit to the programme and become a volunteer with Ability West , as the society's role is two-fold... to direct people who wish to volunteer in the direction of Ability West, and to raise awareness about disability around college through campaigns and events. These events can be undertaken by all members, such as speed-dating in the dark, 'Ban the R-Word' and information evenings among others. There will also be fundraisers for Ability West and other organisations and many social events, all with the ultimate goal of stripping away the connotations that lie on people about people with intellectual disabilitie
The society aims to give students an opportunity to get involved with Ability West and different programmes it offers, specifically 'Best Buddies'.This is important because 1 in 10 people have an intellectual disability. This society will give students an opportunity to understand what an intellectual disability is and help breakdown the existing barriers that may prevent them from meeting and getting involved in the life of a peer who has an intellectual disability. It also gives students an opportunity to promote equality.Garda vetting is undertaken by Ability West for students getting involved in programmes involving service-users with special needs.
Please find our constitution here.