Cycling Inclusion for students at St Teresa’s

Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ireland were delighted to be joined by Minister of State at the Department of Health and at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Anne Rabbitte who delivered a special mobility trike to the teachers and students at St Teresa’s School, Ballinasloe, as part of our Recycle Mobility Programme.

Supported by Minister Rabbitte and her government colleague James Lawless at The Department of Transport, Variety Ireland’s Recycle Mobility Programme ensures children with disabilities have equal access to cycling by helping provide special mobility trikes to children all across the disability spectrum.

Minister Rabbitte got to present a special bike to the delight and smiles of the wonderful teachers and students at St Terresa’s who can now enjoy cycling activities together.

In Variety Ireland’s new Recycle Mobility Programme Impact Report & Evaluation Study 2024, conducted by Dr Jolanta Burke of the RCSI and Dr Robert Egan Trinity College Dublin, results show that our Recycle Mobility Programme, which supplies special mobility trikes to children with disabilities, can improve the mental and physical wellbeing of both the child, family members and teachers.

Thanks to the continued support of both Ministers and their departments, Variety Ireland has been able to deliver over 500 special mobility trikes to children’s and schools around Ireland since the launch of the programme back in 2021.

On behalf of Minister Rabbitte and all of us here at Variety Ireland, we would like to thank all at St Teresa’s for the great work and wish their students many happy years of cycling together!