Project
Mental Health Ireland is a national voluntary organisation which was established in 1966 as the Mental Health Association of Ireland. MHI’s aim is to promote positive mental health and wellbeing to all individuals and communities in Ireland. We have a network of 92 Mental Health Associations throughout the country, all led by volunteers. Our Mental Health Associations fundraise to organise outings and events for those struggling with mental health in their communities. Students will explore and possible fundraising activities and the cost to project.
Every year Limerick Mental Health Association support and organize a week long project of events and talks for the Limerick community.The aim of raising mental health awareness and the various organisations and groups that offer support ( including the nature of the support offered) to the public in Limerick City and County.
Community groups, voluntary organisations and individuals in the Mid-Western Region.
A key objective is to give community groups and organisations the opportunity to access resources in their local university. We support our community partners to effectively engage with faculty and students. Community members are provided with information and resources. Evaluation of their experiences of engaging with UL faculty and students and meeting project expectations is undertaking at specific timelines throughout the practicum. Community Evaluation of the project is designed into the project from start to finish.
Learning
Limerick Mental Health Association/Le Cheile is a charity dedicated to supporting people who live with mental health issues or have difficulty coping. It is funded annually by the HSE under Section 39 Funding but we also need to raise €10k annually to add to that funding to support the service. However, with a volunteer board and limited staff resources this has been done on a very ad-hoc basis.
There is a need for our organization to put together a comprehensive strategy for effective fundraising. The project is to identify what is the most time and cost effective way to raise the funds required within a 12 month period either through several initiatives or for one large fundraising effort annually. As such, you will engage in both independent as well as collaborative learning. You will learn from one another to reach creative solutions to practical problems. The module is designed to enable students to develop the capacity to apply curriculum-based knowledge in a real-world setting and self-assess and develop graduate attributes to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team in collaboration with external community stake-holders. Submission of reflective journals will allow you to reflect on your learning and to identify any difficulties encountered in conducting your project. Presentations will allow you to practice and refine your communication skills.
You will work collaboratively with a community co coordinator in the Limerick Mental Health Association, community groups/individual and your peers.
Both formative and summative assessment methods will be used. Assessments will be designed to complement the interactive teaching and learning approaches. In particular, methods conducive to workplace assessment will be employed. These will include weekly reflection diaries, a group presentation, a reflective assignment and self-assessment activity. Students will be expected to produce a community briefing report and present their project outputs and outcomes to their community partner.