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Monday 12 October 2015 by Jigsaw NI
Photo: Liz Bowman (Programme Co-ordinator for Jigsaw NI), Arder Carson (Lord Mayor of Belfast), Terry Woodside and Bill Beaumont (service users of Jigsaw NI).
On 9 October 2015, we were invited by the Lord Mayor of Belfast Arder Carson to attend an event at Belfast City Hall to receive a Certificate of Recognition in association with Divis Community Centre. We are so pleased to have been acknowledged for all of our work and dedication to our local community and overwhelmed to be referred to as a ‘true Community Champion’.
We develop a range of physical activity programmes for our services users from boccia to swimming. Our activities are for groups of individuals that have a range of disabilities, including mobility problems, brain injury, sensory impairments and multiple sclerosis.
It is always great to see our service users enjoying our activities and give them the opportunity to improve their self-esteem, mobility, confidence and health, as well as building friendships along the way!
We would like to say a big thank you to everyone that supports us at Jigsaw NI and to the organisers of this certificate!
Wednesday 22 July 2015 by Jigsaw NI
Jigsaw NI applied and received funding from the National Lottery through the Arts Council of NI (small grants programme) to run 3 x 8 week programmes to design and create 3 sporting themed ceramic/mosaic murals. The grant also included an 8 week printmaking project in Seacourt Print workshop. The project involved 4 art groups (3 groups in Belfast and 1 group in Bangor), which are made up of service users with varying types and levels of disabilities. The groups meet for two hours each week in local community centres.
Artists (Shauna McCann, Betty Brown, Robert Peters, Penny Brewill) with specific skills in different mediums such as ceramics, mosaic, mural painting, printmaking etc worked with the service users over the 8 weeks.
Participant Connor White said: “I am so grateful to Jigsaw NI for providing me with this opportunity to participate in the art group and I especially enjoy meeting the other members in the group each week.“
Clare McQuiston (Manager of Jigsaw NI) said: “These projects were so worthwhile for all involved. Congratulations to the participants, volunteers and artists, the ceramic/mosaic murals look great and the different printwork pieces are very impressive. So much time and effort has been put in and the participants have really enjoyed these projects. Well done to all involved and thanks again to the funder National Lottery through the Arts Council for NI.”
Thursday 26 February 2015 by Jigsaw NI
– supported by Belfast City Council Support for Sport programme
Jigsaw NI received funding from Belfast City Council Support for Sport programme to further develop the Boccia groups in Belfast and run a Boccia tournament for both Belfast groups to come together along with the Bangor group to compete for the coveted shield.
The tournament took place on Thursday 12th February 2015 and was held in the Spectrum Centre. There were 11 teams competing on the day. Each team played against 3 other teams with their scores added up from each game to make their final total. A lot of the games were very tightly fought, but the team that stood out and won by a clear margin on the day were “The Seasider’s” from the Bangor group.
Clare McQuiston, Manager of Jigsaw NI, said “Well done to all the teams that took part in the tournament and Congratulations to “The Seasiders” on winning the tournament. Boccia has become so popular with our service users and is enjoyed very much by those in the groups. Receiving the funding from Belfast City Council Support for Sport programme has given Jigsaw NI the opportunity to introduce the sport to new people and also to hold another Boccia tournament for all those involved in the Boccia groups. It is great to see our service users from different groups coming together to compete in a sport that they enjoy. Thank you to Belfast City Council Support for Sport and to all who made the tournament and overall project a success.”
Wednesday 25 February 2015 by Jigsaw NI
The 3 C's Team with Clare McQuiston, Manager of Jigsaw NI
In October 2014, the third ‘Andy Ross’ Boccia tournament took place, in memory of the late Andy Ross, a regular attender at Boccia NI events and husband of former Boccia NI committee member Nessie Ross. With 15 teams competing from across Belfast and Newtownabbey, the tournament was very closely fought. All teams played against three other teams with the top two teams qualifying to get into the final. The final was between Ardrigh Lads (a team from Ardrigh Fold) and Jigsaw NI team – The 3 C’s. This was another tight match with the 3 C’s coming out on top at the end. This means that The 3 C’s have won two out of the three ‘Andy Ross’ tournaments. Clare McQuiston, Manager of Jigsaw NI, said “This is a brilliant achievement for the 3C’s. The group have great fun at their weekly boccia session and it is obvious that they are improving all the time. Well done and congratulations to all the teams, especially “The 3 C’s.”
The Andy Ross Boccia tournament 2014 took place on 23rd October 2014 in the Spectrum Centre. All teams enjoyed their day out and Jigsaw NI would like to thank Boccia NI for organising the tournament.
Boccia is a great way of getting people active, while adding a competitive edge when playing games. Jigsaw NI organises and facilitates weekly sessions of Boccia in Andersonstown Leisure Centre on Thursday mornings 10.30-11.30am, Connswater Community and Leisure on Thursday afternoons 1.30pm – 2.30pm and in Skipperstone CC, Bangor on Thursdays 11.30am – 12.30pm and is very popular with our service users.
Boccia is a Sport that can be enjoyed by almost anyone regardless of age or ability both in a friendly and/or competitive environment. Jigsaw NI also offers Art, Swimming, Chair-based Activity and Exercise in water. If anyone over 18 with a disability is interested in any of our activities please contact Liz or Clare on 028 90319054.
Office 4b, Townsend Enterprise Park,
28 Townsend Street
BT13 2ES, BELFAST
County Antrim
Northern Ireland
tel: 028 9031 9054