Chadwicks Group has announced the Irish Wheelchair Association as its new charity partner for 2021.
The IWA is a community of people with physical disabilities across Ireland founded on the belief that everyone should be able to live a life of choice and equality. They offer services for those with physical disabilities to live independently, all the while campaigning for equal opportunities for their community.
IWA-Sport is a key element of the service providing a sporting opportunity for people with a disability to enjoy the benefits of physical activity and on occasion to go on to represent Ireland at the highest levels of Paralympic sport.
As part of the new partnership, Chadwicks Group will supply a range of building materials to the network of 57 IWA community centres across the country to help improve accessibility for its users. The IWA operates 57 community centres nationwide and provides 1.3 million hours of assisted living services to more than 2,000 adults and children.
In addition to providing construction materials, Chadwicks Group will also team up with the IWA to raise funds for its national support services which include accessible transport, community centres, driving assessments and lessons, and respite care.
The new partnership was launched by Paralympian, Patrick Monahan who credits organisations like the Irish Wheelchair Association with helping him find his passion for wheelchair racing.
Monaghan will join us tomorrow morning on the Sport for Business Daily.
“I am delighted to team up with Chadwicks Group and the Irish Wheelchair Association for this partnership,” he said.
Support
“My accident over 10 years ago forced me to face a dramatic and difficult challenge, but I did not do it alone. The support of my family along with incredible organisations like the Irish Wheelchair Association enabled me to find my great passion, wheelchair racing, and for that, I am hugely thankful.”
“As a former apprentice plumber, I look forward to working with the team in Chadwicks Group to highlight not only my story, but the vital work that the IWA coordinates across the country. I believe this is an exciting time for both organisations, and I am delighted to be part of their next chapter together.”
Commenting on the announcement, Patrick Atkinson Chief Executive of Chadwicks Group said,
“We believe in empowering our colleagues to implement positive change in their local communities,” added Patrick Atkinson of Chadwicks Group.
“These Community Centres are a vital service for so many across the country and we look forward to helping make these centres more accessible and most importantly making a real difference in the lives of those who use these centres across Ireland.”
“We also look forward to learning more about the accessibility challenges in our own business through the IWA’s Disability Awareness Training programme which will be made available to all our Chadwicks Group colleagues. This training will increase our understanding of inclusion and diversity in the workplace, so we can adopt best practice principles across all of our nationwide branches.”
“The help we will receive from Chadwicks will have an enormous impact on the quality of life of people with disabilities all over the country,” said Mildred Carroll of the IWA.
“Our community centre programmes are social, educational and recreational, providing essential support to people with disabilities in their local area, benefitting their physical and mental health. For some people, our centres are the only opportunity to meet friends and connect with their community. We are really grateful to Chadwicks for helping us to get much-needed work done across our centres.”
IWA-Sport is one of 30 National Governing Bodies of Sport are among more than 250+ members of the Sport for Business network of sporting and business organisations working together across a number of key areas.
Sport for Business Partners
