Armstrong gives support to Buddy Bear Trust
Billy Armstrong, Ulster Unionist Candidate for Mid-Ulster and MLA since 1998 and Tom Elliott and Kenny Donaldson, Ulster Unionist Candidates for Fermanagh and South Tyrone has voiced their support for the Buddy Bear Trust which provides a Conductive Education provision for children with Cerebral Palsy, the only school providing conductive education for children both in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The Ulster Unionist Candidates pay tribute to Brendan McConville, Chairman and the members of the Buddy Bear Trust for their dedication and commitment to continuing this excellent education provision.
“Cerebral Palsy impacts on 1 in 400 children irrespective of politics and The Buddy Bear Trust has found that those children taught using Conductive Education as provided in the Peto Andras Institute in Budapest have made huge strides forward in their abilities and therefore are much more able to lead a more ‘normal’ life.
“It is unfortunate that the Education and Library Boards have so far failed to give The Buddy Bear Trust its utmost support and too many parents of children with Cerebral Palsy across Northern Ireland have not been informed of its excellent facilities. This has meant that pupil numbers at this independent charity school remain at such low level and questions arise over its future.
“The Buddy Bear Trust has my committed support for their endeavours to highlight their plight to Tony Blair Prime Minister. It would, of course be ideal for an Education Minister of a devolved Assembly in Northern Ireland to give financial support the Buddy Bear Trust, and we, in the Ulster Unionist Party aim to raise this issue in any future Assembly.”