The Special Olympics World Games has donated 100,000 Euros to the University of Ulster to help fund research into healthcare needs of people with disabilities.

The money was be used to purchase equipment in the new state-of-the-art Centre for Rehabilitation Research – the first of its kind in the UK or Ireland – which is currently being built on the University’s Jordanstown campus. The Centre is being established under the joint leadership of Professors Deirdre Walsh, Dave Baxter and Suzanne McDonough, and Dr Alison Porter-Armstrong.

Handing over the generous donation, Mrs Evelyn Greer, a member of the Special Olympics World Board, said: “It is fitting that there should be a lasting legacy from the Games in Northern Ireland and it is most appropriate that the Special Olympics World Games assist with this new unit.”

She also congratulated the Northern Ireland Committee of the Special Olympics for raising £1.6m within the province.

Professor Richard Barnett, Acting Vice-Chancellor, said the donation is a sign of confidence in the University’s Rehabilitation Sciences research and teaching activities which are highly regarded nationally and internationally.

He added: “This is a group of staff who are going places and we are delighted with this external support and endorsement of their activities, particularly as it will lead to better treatments and applications of benefit to people with disabilities in our community”.

Professor Bill Clarke, Provost of the University’s Jordanstown and Belfast campuses, said: “The University of Ulster greatly appreciates the generosity of the Special Olympics World Board in providing this valuable donation. I can assure Mrs. Greer and the other members of the Board that their gift will be put to very good use in equipping a suite within our new Jordanstown Centre for Rehabilitation Research.”

The new rehabilitation sciences research facility is scheduled to become operational in early 2006. Construction work went on site this month.

In October 2003 the University was awarded £3.1m funding from the joint Department for Employment and Learning/Office of Science and Technology Science Research Investment Fund to provide a new building which will house research projects related to the healthcare professions.

For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young