- Area:
- Northern Ireland
- Programme:
- Reaching Out: Connecting Older People
- Release date:
- 3 4 2013
A project supporting older people across Northern Ireland who have experienced domestic violence is sharing in a major boost of almost £4.5 million from the Big Lottery Fund.
A total of 14 projects are receiving funding through the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Out: Connecting Older People programme which supports older people affected by issues such as bereavement, disability or long-term illness or who live in residential care or sheltered housing.
Research by Belfast and Lisburn Women’s Aid has revealed that one in six women over the age of 60 suffers from some form of domestic abuse. The organisation has been awarded a grant of £200,000 to reach out to women in Belfast, Lisburn and Down to help them access support.
Chief Executive, Patricia Lyness, said many of the women they have identified have been dealing with violence and abuse of some form or other for years. She added: “However due to their age and other factors they feel unable to talk about it and many believe it is too late for them to do anything to change their situation.
“This programme will enable us to get out into the communities where these women are and to offer a lifeline to them. Many feel that because of their age and life limiting issues that there is little point in speaking out but everyone is entitled to live a life free from violence and fear.
“We have worked with women in their 80’s and 90’s who find their way to us and are amazed at the freedom that came with speaking out and the support which was available to help them keep safe and recover from past violence and abuse.”
Kinship Care has also been awarded £185,461 to develop the Caring for Kin project which will provide vital support to grandparents, great grandparents and kinship carers over 65 in Cookstown, Draperstown and Magherafelt.
Founder of Kinship Care Jacqueline Williamson said the project would provide a variety of support including the development of a helpline and the creation of groups to help develop the skills of older carers.
She added: “In the last two years we have been contacted by over 120 families who are looking after a relatives’ child. This normally happens because of a variety of issues including illness of a parent, mental health issues, addiction and dependency problems with drugs and alcohol and even the untimely death of a parent. This funding will help to transform so many lives.”
Jacqueline set up the charity after finding herself struggling when she became the full time carer of her sister’s child.
“I felt a real stigma attached to admitting that it was difficult and I felt very alone and isolated it wasn’t until I met two grandparents who were much older than me and looking after their two young grandchildren that I realised I wasn’t alone.
“We had similar feelings and anxieties and that we felt there were real issues attached to looking after a member of ‘kin’, so Kinship Care was established with the aim of providing practical help and support to carers many of whom were over 60.”
Frank Hewitt, Big Lottery Fund NI Chair, said: “We are already seeing the really positive impact that the Connecting Older People programme is having on the lives of our most vulnerable older people in Northern Ireland.
“The programme is supporting a range of vital projects that are transforming the lives of older people in our communities who are at risk of isolation, depression, mental and physical ill health and low self esteem. Our funding is supporting those older people who need our help the most.”
For more information contact:
Karen Ireland Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 028 90 551 426
Out of hours contact: 07788 640 791
Notes to Editors
• The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
• BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception in 2004 BIG has awarded close to £6bn.
• The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £29 billion has now been raised and more than 383,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
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