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On Wednesday, the 22nd of October, a group of third-year psychology students took part in a site visit to St. Joseph’s Training Centre in Newcastle. This visit was organised as part of the Community Psychology module, which aims to expand awareness of community organisations in Galway and encourage meaningful engagement with the people who contribute so much to local wellbeing.

When they arrived, students were warmly welcomed by Linda, who introduced the team to the Best Buddies Programme, run by Ability West. Ability West is a voluntary organisation that supports children and adults with intellectual disabilities throughout Galway city and county. Their mission is to empower individuals to lead self-directed, meaningful lives within their communities. Linda explained how the Best Buddies Programme pairs service users with volunteer buddies who meet for social activities such as coffee outings, cinema trips, or nature walks. The programme promotes inclusion, friendship, and confidence, and it was evident that both the service users and volunteers benefit enormously from the experience.

The community psychology team then met Susan, the Centre Manager, who along with two enthusiastic students gave the team a guided tour of the facility. The tour was engaging and interactive, allowing everyone to see firsthand the vibrant, inclusive atmosphere at St. Joseph’s. As noted by Eabha Niland, team liaison for Community Psychology, “We learned about the various modules offered at the centre, including technology, communication, cooking, art, and yoga/relaxation. Hearing directly from the students about their experiences and achievements was inspiring. It was clear that the centre encourages personal growth, creativity, and independence, helping each individual reach their full potential. However, Susan also highlighted the significant challenges posed by limited funding and resources, which continue to place strain on the organisation and its staff.”

A few weeks later, the community psychology team collaborated further with Photo Soc and volunteers from the Merlin Woods Foundation to organise a nature walk for the students from the training centre. On the 5th of November, they set off on the UG Nature Walk, which stretches from the South Campus all the way to the Dangan Sports Complex. As we walked, we chatted with the students about a range of topics from the flora and fauna along the riverside, to different features of the university campus, to the history of Menlo Castle. One of the highlights was meeting the famous “Dangan Donkey,” a well-loved resident near Dangan House, who quickly became a favourite among the students.

As noted by Eabha Niland, “Overall, the experience was both rewarding and insightful. As a team, we gained a much deeper appreciation for the incredible work carried out by Ability West and the dedicated staff and students at St. Joseph’s Training Centre. We are sincerely grateful for the warm welcome we received and for the opportunity to learn from everyone at the centre.”

On behalf of Eabha Niland, Liam Daly, Aela Daly, Anna McCarthy, Aisling McEvoy, Dylan Solan and Luize Dzeimsa, we are sincerely grateful for the warm welcome we received and for the opportunity to learn from everyone at the centre.”