- Area:
- Northern Ireland
- Programme:
- Reaching Out: Connecting Older People
- Release date:
- 15 8 2012
A project aiming to cut the number of deaths from cancer among older people in Northern Ireland has been awarded a major grant from the Big Lottery Fund.
Cancer Focus Northern Ireland is one of four organisations awarded grants totalling over £1.5 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.
Cancer Focus, formerly known as the Ulster Cancer Foundation, has been awarded a grant of £475,938 to reduce the level of late diagnosis of cancer among older people.
The organisation will work in partnership with the Oaklee Homes Group to design and deliver an information programme targeting older people at risk of social isolation, particularly those living in rural areas across Northern Ireland.
Cancer Focus will work in supported living schemes and community venues. ‘Well Aware’ sessions will bring people together and offer basic health checks and encourage older people to set manageable goals for themselves. A team of 45 peer educators will be trained to deliver a peer education programme.
Roisin Foster, Chief Executive of Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, said research showed that many older people have had a cancer diagnosis too late for them to get the most successful outcome from available treatment. “We want to raise awareness without raising anxiety,” she said.
“Sometimes the signs of cancer are masked by other signs of getting older but things like extreme weight loss, lumps or unexplained changes in your body may be an indication of cancer and should be checked by a doctor.
“This is all about empowering older people to take control. They often feel they don’t want to bother the doctor, or that the health service is for young people. We want older people to realise that there are things they should go to the doctor about.”
Roisin added: “We cannot wipe cancer out, but we can help people to lower their risk. An extra ten years at 60 is just as important as an extra ten years at 16. Every year of quality life is sacred and that is the driving force behind this project.”
Bill Jeffrey, 78, an Oaklee tenant in Belfast, was diagnosed with bowel cancer six years ago. He believes it would have killed him if he had not gone to his GP when he did. Instead, Bill is enjoying life to the full as an actor, radio commentator and literary agent. “I think when you get older you don’t take symptoms seriously. You don’t want to bother people, or you think it will be alright, but these things don’t just get alright. It is really important to speak to a relative or a doctor and get checked out,” said Bill.
Action on Hearing Loss, formerly known as the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, (RNID), has been awarded £499,974 to support isolated and lonely older deaf and hearing impaired people, helping them adapt to their hearing loss and to improve their communication with their families, carers, and the wider community.
The project will provide a one-to-one befriending service across Northern Ireland to older deaf and hearing impaired people both at home and in residential care in order to reduce isolation, loneliness and risk. Action on Hearing Loss volunteers will support each individual, identifying their communication needs, breaking down barriers and improving their quality of life.
Volunteer-led social groups will also work in community and in residential settings, providing opportunities for social interaction between older deaf and hearing impaired people, helping them to share personal experiences and encourage peer support.
“When a person experiences difficulties due to hearing loss it can affect every aspect of their daily life from answering a telephone, hearing the doorbell to watching TV which creates social isolation. Hearing loss affects 1 in 6 people in Northern Ireland with figures set to rise as our society ages,” said Service Manager Cilla Mullan. “This project will work with some of the most isolated people in our communities and I believe this project will make a big difference for older people with hearing loss across Northern Ireland.”
Ann Beedham, 63, lives in east Belfast. She has had reduced hearing from the age of six. “It was only in my 50s when I went on a rehabilitation course run by RNID/Action on Hearing Loss that life started to improve for me,” she said. “I no longer felt so isolated, different, or lonely. I was with people who understood what life was like for someone like me and it was ok to be partially deaf. I was so impressed with their work that I became a volunteer and received lots of training so now I can help others.”
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 harsh period of recession in Northern Ireland.”
“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.”
To find out more about the Reaching Out programmes visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
A full list of grants announced in Northern Ireland today
- 37KB
Further Information
Andrew Kennedy Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 02890 551 426
Out of hours contact: 07788 640 791
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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