A number of Derry groups at to benefit from almost £1.2 million funding to address alcoholism and help those with alcohol related problems in the Western Health Trust area.
The £1,198,000 from the Big Lottery Funding to the Western Regional Alcohol Prevention Programme (WRAPP) will enable community and voluntary based projects included in the portfolio to address the harm caused by alcohol misuse.
It will also allow organisations with the skills and expertise to tackle this problem locally.
WRAPP incorporates six community and voluntary sector projects and one Trust project.
Derry groups to benefit from the funding are:
:: Alcohol Outreach Project (Quest) – Foyle New Horizons.
:: Supporting Families Supporting Communities Project – Action for Children.
:: The Fasten Programme – North West Counselling and Divert.
The Community Mobilisation Project, Derry Healthy Cities in Strabane will also benefit.
Trevor Millar, Director of Adult Mental Health and Disability Services at the Western Trust, said the majority of the grant (80%) had been allocated to community and voluntary based projects and 20% allocated for a Trust based project.
He added: “The Western Trust welcome the £1.2 million investment grant by the Big Lottery to enable a number of vital projects to be undertaken to reduce the harm to those affected by alcohol misuse.
“The projects will build the capacity of the community/voluntary sector, encourage innovative practice and promote better solutions to tackle alcohol problems.
“The portfolio of projects are additional to current service and will target groups relating to alcohol service through education and prevention – enabling early intervention, better use of existing resources and on-going access to services”
The Trust project was identified at an early stage and it was agreed across the Directorates that the 20% of the grant awarded would be allocated to a project on the study of Alcohol Related Brian Disorder (ARBD).ARBD presents many social difficulties in the community for the individual, their family and traditional Trust services. Often described as an invisible condition, it is complex in its nature and has far-reaching consequences for the individual.
Frank Hewitt, Big Lottery Fund NI Chair, adds: “We are delighted that the Impact of Alcohol programme is supporting community based projects that are playing a key role in tackling alcohol misuse in Northern Ireland.
“By working with the Western Trust we are building on existing experience and expertise in this area and using this funding to tackle the range of issues affecting people, families and the wider community that have resulted from alcohol misuse.”
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