Lottery cash to support Magherafelt communities
Thursday, 11 September 2008
A COMMUNITY project providing support for people caring for terminally ill family members in Magherafelt has received good cause funding from the Big Lottery Fund today.
Northern Ireland Hospice has been awarded a grant of £494,120 to run support programmes for carers in Magherafelt and across the Northern Health and Social Care Trust area aimed at reducing their stress and anxiety and ensuring they can keep their loved ones at home for as long as possible.
The scheme is being funded as part of a grants roll-out of £5,702,118 to 15 projects across Northern Ireland under the Big Lottery Fund's Reaching Communities NI programme. This £18 million programme aims to support a wide range of projects that bring changes to people's lives, creating stronger communities and improved local environments.
Northern Ireland Hospice will use the grant to run programmes across the NHSCT area providing carers with practical and emotional advice, support and guidance.
The programmes will include a drop-in facility for carers who need information or just want to chat, complimentary therapies for stress relief, and advice on difficult topics such as telling children about terminal illnesses, resolving family conflict, talking to the patient and help with pre and post bereavement grieving.
There will also be information points so carers know where to go for more help on matters such as the benefits and grants they are entitled to and legal matters.
A telephone support line will also be set up for families. Ina Henry, Director of Income Generation, said: "People who are caring for loved ones at end of their lives are dealing with the emotional stress of knowing the person they are looking after is going to die as well as dealing with the stress of caring for person on a daily basis. "Carers need access to information on practical issues such as benefits and grants and essential equipment, and they also deserve a break for themselves so they don't get ill. This project will provide them with the support they need."
She continued: "They will have someone to chat to and share their feelings, a place to relax and reduce some of their stress and anxiety, and an information point for all the practical issues that come up. The majority of people want to be looked after in their own home but their families need the right support to enable them to do that. This project will provide that support."
Big Lottery Fund NI Chair Breidge Gadd said: "I am delighted that the Big Lottery Fund has supported such a diverse range of projects. It is heartening to see so many projects supporting disadvantaged groups within our society.
“The Reaching Communities NI programme is very effective in ensuring that lottery cash reaches strong and innovative projects which have a real and lasting impact on people lives and this round of grants represents a large vote of confidence for the work of the voluntary and community sector."
