Inclusive Bikes initiative wins annual Davin Corrigan Legacy Award

THE winners of the annual Davin Corrigan Legacy Award for 'Improving Patient/Service User and Carer Safety through Service User and Carer Engagement' have been revealed as Adult Learning Disability Occupational Therapist service, Inclusive Bikes.

The award, established in memory of 25-year-old Glebe man, Davin Corrigan, commemorates his life by recognising impactful changes within the Western Trust that have strengthened patient and service user safety through meaningful engagement with service users, their families, and carers.

The award celebrates initiatives that have brought about tangible improvements, fostering a culture of listening and learning from service users and their families.

It is part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to making healthcare safer and more responsive to the needs of those it serves.

This year, the Davin Corrigan Legacy Award ceremony was held on Wednesday, November 26, at the Waterfoot Hotel.

Members of the public were invited to attend alongside Trust staff and external partners to hear firsthand about the project finalists and celebrate the positive impact these initiatives have made on service user and carer safety.

The Davin Corrigan Legacy Awards continues to grow every year, and this year, there were a high number of applicants with four projects invited to make a presentation the final stages.

Those finalists were: CAMHS Accessibility Project, Inclusive Bikes within learning disability, Medpoint Solo Cancer Medication Collection Point and North West Cancer Centre easy read storybook.

After listening to the finalist’s presentations, members of the public were asked to cast their vote with the Inclusion Bikes initiative chosen as the winners.

The Trust’s Learning Disability Occupational Therapists having been working in partnership with Mulhern Close (Inspire Wellbeing) and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council to promote the use of Inclusive Bikes at Omagh Leisure Centre.

Ann Mellon, along with Caoimhe McDonagh, initiated this joint project to use the bikes to benefit the clients they work with and raise local awareness.

Ann and Caoimhe recognised that as well as being beneficial for overall physical and mental wellbeing, activities such as cycling can be regulating for people with a learning disability, as they help calm the sensory system and relieve stress and tension.

Cycling is also a great activity as it helps individuals understand their body position, movement in space, and improves balance and coordination.

The Inclusive Bikes promote inclusion and allows individuals who are not able to use a regular bike to experience and enjoy cycling in a safe and welcoming environment, as well as accessing the outdoors.

Christine McLaughlin, assistant director Adult Learning Disability Services at the Western Trust expressed her delight that the Inclusion Bikes initiative were chosen as this year’s winners.

She said: “Congratulation to The Inclusion Bikes project for their excellent presentation at today’s awards event.

"It’s a wonderful achievement and recognition of their important work that Anne and Caoimhe, occupational therapists from our Adult Learning Disability Services, have been chosen for this award.

"This is deserving recognition for their hard work and dedication to supporting adults with a learning disability to be seen and thrive in their local community.

"Well done ladies. I am delighted with your achievement.”