b'WALK uses innovative methods to connect people who are JoeMason,CEOofWALKelaboratedonthephilosophy marginalised into the life of the community, says Cather- of the organization. We see the whole person. We focus ine Devine. We provide individualised supports to enableonsupportingpeopletoreachtheirfullpotentialas people with complex needs take more control over their contributing members of their community. The two years islives. Many of these people have spent long periods of time the intensive engagement but we are committed to thesein institutional care and need support in rebuilding family people for the rest of their lives. When they reach a mile-and community connections. stone we say, What more can be achieved? What next? WhenclientscometoWALKtheyareoftenleaving ThankstoWALK,hundredsofserviceusershaveinstitutionallifeforthefirsttime.Multi-disciplinary movedfromrelianceonhospitalservicesand teams work one-on-one for up to two years with people who institutional life to employment, independent living, and aare coming out of institutions. WALK helps them rebuild richer life with recreational and community benefits.relationships with family, with the community, explainsCatherine. Those two years can be very hard, but we know HOW HAS THEPROMISING IRELAND CAMPAIGN HELPED?from our experience that the improvements in their livescan be phenomenal. OneofthemanyofferingsofWALKistheircommunityOther people are referred to WALK to ensure they can GardenProgram.Severalyearsagosomeofourclientsgain the skills and support to stay out of the institutional expressedfrustrationthattheywerenotseenasfull system entirely. The organization which was established in contributorstotheircommunity,explainedJoeMason.1967 has received national recognition and quality awards TheGardenProgramcameaboutbecausethesefolksfor their management and approach. Its not just about wantedtodosomethingpositivewiththeirskillswhilehelpingpeoplewithtacticalskills,explainsCatherine, helpingothersinthecommunity.Whatwehadwere Its about helping those people to find their heart and their the people and the skills, but what we didnt have was thedreams. We have a 90% success rate of reducing what is funding. We had heard of other programs that had beenconsidered challenging behavior and helping individuals supported by The Ireland Funds and so we decided to applyintegrate into everyday life.for a grant. connect 2013 | 18'