Focus
- Services for people with disabilities
- Social inclusion
- Health services and health promotion
- Human Rights
Interest
- Development of education and training materials and programmes
- European learning networks and exchanges
- Community outreach and engagement
- Cultural and artistic innovation
- Policy, advocacy and campaigns
- Research
- Governance
About Crann
Crann is an Irish nonprofit organisation that supports individuals and families with neuro-physical disabilities.
Utilising a unique Two-Generation (2Gen) Model ofCare, Crann offers integrated health and social services designed to enhance the health, well-being, and participation of children and adults with neuro-physical disabilities and their families.
Crann is the first known organisation in Europe to adapt and implement the Ascend at the Aspen Institute's 2Gen approach in the context of disabilities. This 2Gen Model of Care is illustrated as a hub-and-spoke design, where the family serves as the hub and the spokes represent six interconnected domains. These domains focus on health and social care services, including (1) health and continence, (2) mobility,(3) psychological well-being, (4) social capital, (5) independent living, and (6) education and career pathways.
Scholars, policymakers, and practitioners have praised 2Gen approaches for their potential to enhance well-being across generations and promote upward mobility; however, little is known about the effectiveness of 2Gen approaches in disability contexts. EU funding can supportCrann in building their evidence base, allowing for comprehensive research and evaluation of their 2Gen model, which is essential for demonstrating its impact and gaining further support.
EU Project Experience
No experience yet.
European Year of Youth (EYY) 2022 Micro Grant Scheme. To celebrate the European Year of Youth 2022 and a successful first year in operation, the Youth Social Club @Crann plan to host a magical Winter Wonderland event in Ireland's only fully inclusive and accessible playground.
EU Funding Goals
At Crann,we are dedicated to creating a dynamic network that fosters collaboration, enriches learning, and engages actively in impactful projects. To support ourmission, we aim to achieve the following EU funding goals:
- Leading a Collaborative Network for Systemic Change: Secure funding to strengthen our long-term strategy focused on influencing policy changes and enhancing disability services. We aim to facilitate partnerships across sectors that can drive systemic improvements and promote best practices.
- Investing in Engaged Research for Evidence of Impact: Obtain financial resources to conduct comprehensive research that generates robust evidence on health, economic, and social outcomes. This research will illuminate the transformative effects of our 2Gen model of care, demonstrating its value and informing future policies and practices.
- Promoting Access and Inclusion Across all Lifespans: Seek funding to develop initiatives and programs that ensure equitable access to health, wellbeing, and participation. Our goals include removing barriers and addressing disparities for individuals at every stage of life, thereby championing a more inclusive society.
By aligning our funding goals with the EU’s priorities, we hope to enhance our impact andcontribute to a better future for all communities. Join us in this vitalmission!
Strengths
Pioneering a 2Gen Approach for disability in Europe, Crann’s innovative 2Gen Model of Care intentionally puts family at the centre and has 6 interconnected areas of support addressing health, wellbeing, and participation across the lifespan. The 6 services are Psychological Wellbeing, Health & Continence, Education & Career Pathways, Mobility, Independent Living & Social Capital. The model allows Crann’s team of professionals including nurses, occupational therapists, counsellors, dieticians, reflexologists, podiatrists, education & career mentors and play therapists to deliver comprehensive wraparound care programmes enabling better health & wellbeing outcomes and increased opportunities for participation in education, work and leisure for the children, adults and families who avail of services at Crann.
As the first disability-focused charity in Europe to formally adopt the Ascend at Aspen 2Generation(2Gen) approach, we are committed to evidencing the impact of our Model of Care. The roadmap for thisresearch began in 2016 and continues today.
Our Social Return on Investment (SROI) forecast confirmed in 2022 that most stakeholders who engaged in services at Crann experienced highly valuable outcomes. Among the outcomes reported by familiesare:- Reduced demand on acute services- Improved independence, mobility, physical health and self-care/management- Improved family relationships & reduced caregiver burden- Improved quality of life and psychological wellbeing- Increase in confidence and motivation- Re-engagement into the community and employmentThose surveyed said that they cannot access the services which Crann provides elsewhere and that Crann is providing programming that no other organization is providing.
Crann is committed to engaged research, collaborating closely with community members, industry partners, and policymakers to meet real-world needs and challenges. This approach is essential for creating impactful and inclusive outcomes that enhance Crann’s services and drive meaningful change in the disability care system. Crann established a Research Advisory Group in September 2024 to support this mission, consisting of diverse experts. This group ensures that research initiatives are grounded in expert knowledge and ethical practices, meeting quarterly to evaluate our ongoing research agenda. In October 2024, Crann hosted a Living Lab Workshop with University College Cork (UCC) for professional stakeholders. This workshop will help advance our engaged research agenda by exploring the critical question: “Is the Crann 2Gen Model of Care effective, viable, sustainable, and translatable?” A follow-up session will occur in 2025 with lived experience experts to advance this work.
The Living Lab allows us to involve end-users in developing and testing research questions in real-life environments, ensuring user-centric outcomes, as demonstrated by UCC’s experience on previous projects. This user-centric approach helps tailor research innovations to meet real-world demands effectively, enhancing implementation and adoption.Crann is dedicated to ensuring that all research involving the charity is conducted with integrity, transparency, accountability, and respect for all participants. Our research governance includes ethical approval processes, ensuring participant safety and consent, data protection, and managing conflicts of interest, among other considerations. Our governance framework ensures that research findings are credible and ethical, contributing positively to the broader body of knowledge.
