- Area:
- Northern Ireland
- Programme:
- Reaching Out: Connecting Older People
- Release date:
- 10 10 2012
Down’s Syndrome Association is one of five Northern Ireland organisations awarded grants totalling almost £1.3 million from 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.
The organisation has been awarded £200,000 to set up a support group in each county in Northern Ireland, offering a place where people aged over 40 with Down’s Syndrome and their carers can meet and share their experiences, get advice and form social networks.
The grant will also be used to hold weekend residentials offering a range of activities for people with Down’s Syndrome and respite for their carers and a befriending scheme where volunteers are matched with an older person to encourage them to take part in activities and courses.
“One hundred years ago, a child born with Down’s Syndrome had a life expectancy of seven years. But people with Down’s Syndrome are now living into their 60s and 70s,” explained Donna Lynch, Regional Manager of the Down’s Syndrome Association. “This has a huge impact on their parent or carer. One of the oldest carers we spoke to was 92 and was still looking after his daughter.
“People with Down’s Syndrome who are aged 40 to 50 are likely to experience health problems which do not affect most people until they are aged 60 to 70. These include the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease, diminishing eyesight and poor hearing. All this puts an additional burden on their carers, who are likely to be aged over 60 themselves.
“The support groups, residential and brefriending service will give the adults with Down’s Syndrome the chance to take part in sports, arts and crafts outdoor activities and drama, while their parents or carers will have a chance to take a break and enjoy activities with other carers which could be anything from bowling to having a coffee together.”
She continued: “And carers will also be offered training and advice on topics including their mental and physical health, the grief cycle and how to plan for the future.”
Geraldine Mulhern is 47 and has Down’s Syndrome. She lives in Belfast with her father Gerard, 85. Geraldine’s sister Bernadette Black said: “Mummy would have been Geraldine’s main carer. Men tended to take a back seat, but mummy passed away six years ago and Geraldine and Daddy live on their own. Geraldine can get herself up and dressed. Daddy cooks and does the washing and ironing. He will check the temperature of the water before she has a shower.
“The project will encourage my father to meet up with other carers and Geraldine will love the opportunity to get together with other people her own age. Geraldine has been on some residential weekends with the Down’s Syndrome Association and she really benefits from them. She feels like she is getting away with her friends.”
Advice NI has also been awarded £500,000 for a project to open up the digital world of the internet to isolated older people living in sheltered housing, residential and nursing care homes across Northern Ireland.
The project, Supporting Active Engagement, will recruit older volunteers to become ‘Internet Champions’ who visit Fold sheltered housing schemes and private care homes, and run classes teaching older people living there basic computer skills including how to get online. “We plan to bring computer tablets to classes our older volunteers will run across Northern Ireland. We will show older people how to use computers and get online to access information on the Rights 4 Seniors’ website,” said Ciarán Arthurs, web content developer, Rights 4 Seniors.
“Older people living in sheltered housing, residential and nursing care homes who are not online are missing out on accessing key information about their rights and entitlements. Those who are able to access the internet can access a wealth of information on shopping, finances, holidays, games and hobbies.
“Supporting Active Engagement will reach out and connect with residents in Fold sheltered housing schemes such as Skerries Fold in Portrush, Kingsway Fold in Dunmurry and in Rathfriland Manor residential home. We will open up a new digital world for older residents across Northern Ireland.”
He continued: “They will have social interaction through the classes; they will be learning; they will be able to take part in social networking activities such as e-mail, Facebook, Twitter and Skype to contact their friends and family. All this will help to increase opportunities for learning, making connections and having fun.”
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 during this period of recession in Northern Ireland.”
He continued: “The programme is supporting a range of vital projects that are transforming the lives of older people in our communities who 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.”
Full list of grants awarded across NI today - word doc 35KB.
Further information
Andrew Kennedy Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 02890 551 426
Out of hours contact: 07788 640 791
To find out more about the Reaching Out programmes visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Notes to Editors
- The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 46% 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 June 2004. 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 £26 billion has now been raised and more than 330,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
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