Cycling Inclusion for Mayo Autism Camp  

Variety Ireland recently headed over to the wonderful County of Mayo to meet a fabulous group of volunteers who run camps for children with disabilities during school breaks.

Mayo Autism Camp (M.A.C) was founded back in 2019 by parents of children with disabilities, Collette Heaney and Elisha Sweeney.

With the great support of all at Manulla FC in Co Mayo, who support and provide the facilities for the camps at their grounds, means children with disabilities have a safe space to visit and participate in a range of activities throughout the course of the year.

Thanks to Minister of State at The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton who supports Variety Ireland’s “Recycle Mobility Programme”, we were able to provide Mayo Autism Camp (M.A.C) with one of our special mobility trikes so children visiting the camp can have safe access to a special mobility trike. This ensures that children with mobility issues can be included in cycling activities with their friends at the camp.

Speaking at the handover of the new special mobility trike for Mayo Autism Camp (M.A.C), Minister Naughton was joined by a group of guests which included Minister of State Alan Dillion, Keira Keogh TD, Councillor Ger Deere, Senator Mark Duffy, Charlie Lambert of Mayo Sports Partnership, as well as the dedicated members of Manulla FC, John Mulroy, Aileen Durkan, Leo Heaney and Tommy Rumley as well as Padraic Carolan of the HSE and Agnes Lunny and Jo Corcoran from a wonderful organisation supporting people with autism called Positive Futures.

Minister Naughton and her Department provide vital reoccurring financial support to Variety Ireland’s “Recycle Mobility Programme”. This allows us to give individuals and groups with children with mobility needs the help they need in securing special mobility trikes.

Since the foundation of The Recycle Mobility Programme back in the summer of 2021, Variety Ireland, with the kind support of The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, The Department of Transport, The HSE, The RCSI along with corporate donors, has allowed us to provide nearly 700 special mobility trikes to children with disabilities and groups around Ireland.

One of the many benefits of our Recycle Mobility Programme is to ensure value for money to the taxpayer.

This means when a family are provided with financial assistance to purchase a special mobility trike, they are then entered into our database so when their child outgrows their trike, it is then passed to the charity who ‘NCT’ the trike, upcycle it and pass this onto another child, special school or group. The family can then apply for further funding for a biker trike for their child.

Not only does this prevent old trikes from reaching harmful landfill sites, but also ensures we extend the life span of each trike so we can pass it on to help other children with mobility issues.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Naughton praised Collete and Elisha as well as all at Manulla FC for their hard work and efforts in running such an inclusive camp for children with disabilities.

Minister Naughton told the audience of guests that she was delighted to see one of the many special mobility trikes which her department supports as part of Variety Ireland’s “Recycle Mobility Programme” being given to the wonderful people at Mayo Autism Camp. She said ”It’s great to be here today at Mayo Autism Camp to see so many happy children being given the opportunity to enjoy a host activities provided by Collete, Alisha and all at Manulla FC. The fact they now have a special mobility trike as part of Variety Ireland’s “Recycle Mobility programme” is brilliant as it now allows children visiting the camp to have access to safe cycling. This programme ensures children and groups across Ireland who cater for children with disabilities continue to have equal access to safe cycling.”

Collete from Mayo Autism Camp (M.A.C) added “ We would like to thank Variety Ireland, Minister Naughton and her Department for providing our wonderful children with this special mobility trike. It’s going to ensure that children with various mobility issues can now be included in cycling activities throughout the year, here at the camp. It means a lot to all of the children, parents and members here at  Mayo Autism Camp (M.A.C) who put a huge amount of work into looking after children with disabilities who come to our camp throughout the year. It’s great and we are so pleased that all our work and that of parents and members here at Manulla FC and Mayo Autism Camp (M.A.C) is finally be recognised”

There was lots of fun enjoyed on the day with special thanks to Garda Laferty from The Mayo Garda Community Policing Unit, who was magnificent and patient while she entertained the children with sirens and flashing lights in her Garda vehicle. Also on hand were the team from The Order of Malta in Castlebar, also entertaining the children with their ambulance vehicle. Finally it’s also important to recognise Javier Serantes of Feile Catering from Carnacon, Co Mayo for providing beautiful food and refreshments on the day for free to visiting guests

Variety Ireland would like to wish all at Mayo Autism Camp (M.A.C) and Manulla FC continued success for all the great work support and inclusion they provide for children with disabilities in the Mayo region.

Parents with children with disabilities in the Co Mayo region who would like to get in contact with Mayo Autism Camp (M.A.C) about their camp, can contact them through their Facebook page.