This has been a challenging time for everyone
While it wasn’t the celebration that they had hoped and planned for, the residents and staff of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s (PCI) residential home for people with profound learning and physical disability in Dundonald, have celebrated their 25th anniversary.
The home has been part of the Ballybeen community since it opened in the estate in 1995. Accommodating 14 residents on a permanent basis, its day care centre, which usually supports 9 people, has been closed since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, as have the two rooms that are available for respite care.
Home manager Isabel Harper said that in these days, the anniversary was an opportunity to celebrate something good and uplifting. “This has been a challenging time for everyone, so we needed a good reason to celebrate and a quarter of a century of caring and providing a home to some wonderful people was more than enough of a reason to do just that!
“When we celebrated our 20th anniversary, we had over 300 friends and family join us, a bouncy castle and face painting, animals to pet, a magician, BBQ and a brass band. Because of Covid, we couldn’t do that, so it was just our residents and staff who were on duty who celebrated with a tea party, a great cake made by our chef, Will, and a special balloon launch, which our residents took part in. It wasn’t the celebration that we had hoped for or planned, but we wanted to mark this special moment. All our staff got a bag of chocolate hearts with ‘AH’ on each one, just to say ‘thank you’,” Isabel said,
Today, seven members of the fifty-strong staff team were at Aaron House when it opened, with four of them having served continuously since 1995, and three having left, but came back. While not original members of staff, another four members of staff have attained over 20 years’ service each.
Talking about Aaron House Isabel continued, “It is not just a place of work, all of us feel that it is an extended part of our families. We care about our residents, as this is their lifelong home and we feel truly blessed to be a part of such a wonderful place.”
Unable to attend himself, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Rt Rev Dr David Bruce, sent a message to home manager, Isabel Harper, in which he congratulated the residents and staff on their special anniversary. “While the celebrations have had to change in light of current circumstances, I know that some things haven’t changed over the last quarter of a century. Put simply, this is the team’s solid commitment to providing a warm, caring and loving environment for everyone who calls Aaron House home, and the support this gives to families. Together, this makes for a wonderful demonstration of Jesus’ love for others, which is also a powerful social witness to the gospel. Please pass on my best wishes, admiration and appreciation on behalf of the whole Church to the staff and community of Aaron House on this significant birthday!”
Since the formation of the Presbyterian Orphan and Children’s society in 1866, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has played a key role in ministering to the physical needs of people. This approach continues today overseas, and at home though its homes and support units, and the work of its congregations on the ground across Ireland.
Originally managed by the Currie Community, PCI took over the management of Aaron House in 2009 in partnership with Choice Housing Association, who are responsible for the maintenance of the building. Today, the Church’s Council for Social Witness (CSW), is responsible for its overall management and the denomination’s nursing and residential care homes, along with its supported housing schemes for people with a learning disability, former offenders and those recovering from substance abuse.
CSW Secretary, Lindsay Conway, who joined in the celebrations, said that the fact that so many members of staff were still there 25 years on speaks volumes about them and the atmosphere at Aaron House. “There is no doubt that Aaron House is a special place. As we celebrate 25 years, I want to pay tribute to the original vision of the Curry Community and the local community who continue to support Aaron House today.”
Mr Conway continued, “To the staff, particularly over the last exceptionally challenging five months, I would also like to pay tribute to them, and thank them, as they have continued to go the extra mile for residents, keeping everyone safe, all of which has been a great reassurance to families and loved ones.”
Council for Social Witness
The Council for Social Witness is one of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s seven councils and seeks to deliver an effective social witness through its social services on behalf of the Church and to the wider community in partnership with appropriate organisations.
With an operational budget of £10 million, the Council currently provides services for a diverse range of users across 17 locations in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, employing 450 staff, utilising the support of 200 volunteers, providing 373 bed spaces.
As such, its remit is wide-ranging and currently includes:
· Residential Care for older people (5 locations)
· Supported Housing for older people (2 locations)
· Nursing Care for older people (1 location)
· Day Care for people with a learning disability (1 location)
· Residential Respite Care for people with either a physical or learning disability, sensory impairment and for older people (2 locations)
· Residential Care Home for profound learning disability (1 location)
· Supported Living for adults with a learning disability and those with a physical disability (2 locations)
· Working with people with addictions (2 locations)
· Working with offenders (1 location)
· Fresh Start volunteering (Hydebank Wood College)
· Taking Care of All (Safeguarding Programme)
All PCI homes welcome residents from all denominations and seek to provide care in a specifically Christian ethos and environment. Residents have the choice of attending regular worship services and fellowship times held within each home and a conscious effort is made to ensure that residents are offered spiritual support and encouragement when requested.
You can find out more information on each of the homes and support unit here –
https://www.presbyterianireland.org/Mission/Mission-Projects.aspx
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