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Enter CTDU website

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Carey's story . . . .

I first became involved with CTDU over 10 years ago, through an organisation I worked for at that time. I went along to their AGM to represent the organisation and the next thing I knew I was signing up to go on the Management Committee!!

I could say I was ‘press-ganged’ but I really enjoy being part of CTDU and have learned so much from this wonderful organisation. Rosemary and Fiona are such committed and hardworking staff members and it's what they do and the inclusive way they work that make the organisation what it is!

I’ve been involved with many different voluntary organisations in Falkirk over the years, as a member, on the management committees and boards but to be honest I’ve found CTDU to be the best voluntary organisation I’ve ever been involved with.

I have gained many new skills like drama, forum theatre, banner-making, and other creative ways of working that I have been able to put to use in various work situations, and in my voluntary work with other organisations too.

Being involved with the students association has been great, I’ve met so many wonderful people and that’s what I love about CTDU – I think it’s quite unique in that we're not just an organisation for one type of group of people – we’re all inclusive!!! So it doesn’t matter what your ability or disability is – we’re all equal – in fact we’re just like one big family!!


We students together, decide on what issues we want to learn more about and often use the students computer to do some research on topical issues. We all help one another and as I'm quite computer literate have helped other students who aren’t as confident on a computer to get onto the internet to search for information that they want to know more about.

After one of the student’s association AGM’s, I was working away on the computer doing the annual report so we could have some of the students annual reports to hand out at the CTDU AGM – and while I was working away I was listening to the other students talking about what we had learned about over the past year – so - I hastily wrote a song about us all and ‘oor wee family’, which we’ve sang on several occasions and at the AGM’s!!

I’ve learned a lot about disabilities issues from training and from some of the students themselves especially problems facing wheelchair users. I have become somewhat pro-active in trying to make sure that organisations I'm involved with take on board disability and equality issues!


Some of us students went to see the film “Inside I’m Dancing” which is the story of 2 young men who were wheelchair users and the struggle they had to get their independence. I felt it would be a great film to use as a film forum for the students that weren’t able to attend that evening. So myself and Lorraine, watched the film, and decided on some questions to prompt the discussions. The film evening was a great success and we could have talked for hours about the issues the film raised!

Unfortunately for me, I'm now working full time so I don't get along to students meetings or other CTDU events as much as I would like to. I miss being there, not only to learn but also seeing and being with the people who have become such good friends. We learn & gain so much from being involved with CTDU and from each other, and as our song goes "……CTDU is the place for me, If you really want to be, a pairt of oor wee faimly…..So if you want to get involved, just give CTDU a call, we really are a friendly bunch, and oor Ann makes a tasty lunch!"



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