£3 million of National Lottery funding for Northern Ireland groups

4 Dec 2018 12:16 PM

Young people with Type 1 Diabetes and people at risk of addiction are among those benefiting from almost £3million of National Lottery funding.

Diabetes UK has been awarded a £430,282 grant from Big Lottery Fund. They are one of eight groups sharing £2,869,324 of National Lottery funding today.

The four-year Our Lives, Our Voices project is empowering young people aged 13-25 with Type 1 Diabetes to take an active role in managing their condition and how it affects their everyday lives.

The project is working across Northern Ireland and is using a £430,282 grant to improve their confidence, reduce isolation, develop peer support networks, increase wellbeing and improve relationships with health care professionals. Young people are leading the project and Diabetes UK is working in partnership with Aware Defeat Depression and Action Mental Health.

Diabetes UK Northern Ireland National Director, Jillian Patchett, said: “This project will make a difference during a time when emotional support is needed the most as this age group shifts through transitions in their education, hospital care, family relationships and many other major life changes.

“Learning to live with a serious, lifelong condition like diabetes can take its toll and can at times, feel like a heavy burden. Young people are three times more likely to experience psychological problems than those without diabetes.

“We want to work with young people to help them tackle the isolation they may feel, give them the tools to live confidently with their condition and support them to create better relationships with their support networks, whether that is their healthcare team, their families or their friends.

“This National Lottery funding will help us put young people in the driving seat; taking control of their condition and the support that they receive, empowering them for each stage of their life.”

HURT has also received £309,623 from Big Lottery Fund to support people in the Derry and Strabane District Council area at risk of or living with substance abuse and addiction.

The project is offering a Harm Reduction Programme with advice on a range of issues to improve people’s physical and mental wellbeing. The project is offering training to local groups who work with people affected by addiction or substance misuse. They are also offering a treatment programme to people affected by addiction and their families, which includes counselling, group support and complementary therapies.

Dessie Kyle, HURT centre manager, said: “We are extremely thankful to Big Lottery Fund and National Lottery players for investing in this project. The four-year project includes education, training and information sessions for community workers as well as a Harm Reduction programme for service users. We will also deliver preventative educational programmes within local schools, youth clubs and community based initiatives.

“HURT have been working in the North West for the past 17 years, supporting people affected by addiction. With Big Lottery Fund’s support, our project will work with users to reduce the potential harm of their addiction.”

Appleby Careers Project Limited, Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum, South Belfast Roundtable, Craigavon & Banbridge Volunteer Bureau, Omagh Volunteer Centre and Kilkeel Development Association have also been awarded funding today. Read more about these projects

Julie Harrison, Big Lottery Fund NI Chair, said: “I am delighted to announce these grants and I want to say thanks to all the National Lottery players who have helped make this possible.

“We want to fund great projects that come from ideas from local people, bring people together and help communities to thrive. From young people, to people with mental health issues and older people, these projects are all involving people from the start and at every stage. We are looking forward to seeing the positive impact they will make to communities across Northern Ireland.”

More information on applying for funding can be found on our websitewww.biglotteryfund.org.uk or ring our enquiries line on 028 90 551 455.

For press enquiries call Rachel Skinner or Lucy Gollogly

Press Office: 02890 551 450 or 02890 551 432
Out of hours media contact: 07580 811135

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