Strabane Koram Centre receives substantial funding windfall

A FUNDING boost of almost £100,000 will allow the Koram Centre in Strabane to roll out more of its services to people in the town,

The Department of Health has awarded a total of £99,983 to the Koram Centre to support delivery of its Talk and Connect Project.

Adrian Loughrey, centre manager welcomed the announcement. He said, “It’s great news to receive this additional funding for the Talk and Connect Project as part of the mental health support fund from the Department of Health. The project will be delivered over the next two years offering counselling/psychotherapy for adults, children and young people.

“It will allow us to deliver additional workshops that bring people together in supportive environments which promote positive mental health and wellbeing.”

Participants will engage in a range of activities including gardening programmes, mindfulness, and woodworking classes. In addition, a small proportion of the funding will help towards associated staff and overhead costs. It is intended the project will support up to 280 participants.

Vital need

Adrian also points to the vital need for the counselling service.

“The funding provides the opportunity to continue our work which is vital in supporting those experiencing mental health and emotional wellbeing issues in the Strabane and district area.

“Over the past year we have seen a substantial rise in the number of referrals seeking support, particularly in relation to increased stress and anxiety and this funding will help us go some way to meet this need,” he said.

Gerard Harkin, chairperson of the Koram Centre, described the funding as “fantastic”.

He said “This funding is now more important than ever as the demand for services increases daily and the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is now coming to light.

“I thank the Department for Health and Community Foundation for Northern Ireland for this support. I also thank my fellow Board of Trustee members, our staff team, service users and all those who helped us put the application together.”

West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan explained the funding would help the Koram Centre to provide services for men, women, and children in the local area.

He said, “The work the Koram Centre does is important, and I welcome this grant. They provide people with invaluable help and support. Groups in our community, like the Koram Centre, regularly must fight for the funding they get to help people so I know how welcome this extra financial assistance will be.

Staff

“It will help them to retain staff and important services for those who need them. I’m glad to see the important work in our community is being supported with this additional funding.

“Going forward we need to see the ten-year Mental Health Action Plan implemented in full to take some of the burden off these groups and ensure people struggling with their mental health can get the help they need, when they need it through our health system,” Mr McCrossan added.