CHRONOLOGICAL TIME SCALE OF EVENTS LEADING TO REALISATION OF L.A.P.W.D.

continued....

5. WORKSHOP WITH D.P.O.C. 26th August 1996

Now that the framework for action was in place in Leitrim the group got down to the serious business of discussing:

(i) structures and legalities;
(ii) sources of funding;
(iii) education for the group;
(iv) public relations;
(v) advertising.

Guidance was sought form the Nation Social Service board. It provided valuable sources of information in the form of addresses and contact numbers.

The Combat poverty Agency, the Forum for the Status of People with Disabilities and The Disabled Federation of Ireland were also researched. From all the literature it became clear that the way forward was to become a company limited by guarantee. Since the D.P.O.C. was an already established company since 1992 it was decided to invite them to a meeting to share their experiences.

This meeting was held in the form of a workshop on 26th of August 1996. In the aftermath of this workshop the group set about:

• formulating aims;
  
• drawing up a Constitution;
• producing an information leaflet for circulation to all people with disabilities in the County;
• contacting a solicitor;
• searching for essential funds.

In relation to funding:

• application was made to the National Rehabilitation Board for a grant towards start-up expenses;
• application was made to the People in Need Trust Fund.

Both of these applications were successful.

• local business sponsorship was invited on a once off basis

This yielded adequate basic financial requirements.