Kildare’s Social Inclusion Week programme launched last week with a community arts and crafts exhibition organised by Kare and the Newbridge Disability Access Group.
The event, held in Newbridge Town Hall on Monday 23rd September, brought together people from all walks of life in the community in a celebration of creativity. Individuals and community groups showcased their talents with impressive displays of arts and crafts, including sculpture, painting, knitting, and weaving.
There was strong attendance from across the wider community, including schools, arts and crafts groups, local politicians and An Garda Siochana, resulting in a warm and social atmosphere throughout the morning.
Attendees were invited to browse the diverse array of work on display and avail of the refreshments, with many taking the opportunity to chat, make new connections, and catch up with old friends.
The guest speaker, Keith Walsh, delivered an insightful talk on inclusion in society, focusing on the small actions we can all take to create a more inclusive community: “If everybody did one nice thing today, imagine the ripple effect that would have in a county like Kildare. We do have power as individuals. It’s not just about the big organisations, everybody plays a part when it comes to welcome people into a community.”
Keith encouraged everyone to “Break the routine with small interactions. Make a little extra effort to engage with someone we don’t usually talk to,” with simple suggestions of how to embrace new connections in our daily lives.
Speaking after the event, Anne-Marie Potter, Social Inclusion Officer at Kare, said: “We were thrilled with the turnout and the level of engagement from the community for this exhibition. It was fantastic to see so many groups and individuals come together to showcase their creativity and launch Social Inclusion Week in Kildare.
“Events like this show just how important it is to create spaces where people feel welcome and included, and that’s what Social Inclusion Week is all about. We were delighted to collaborate with Newbridge Disability Access Group, with the support of Kildare Public Participation Network, to host this event.”
