Koram Centre to benefit from million-pound relocation

THE KORAM Centre, which offers mental health and well-being support to many within the local area, will be leaving their current premises for improved pastures thanks to a million pound cash injection.

The counselling, psychotherapy and psychosocial support service will be taking up new premises in Railway Street in the heart of the town.

The relocation was made possible by a half-a-million pound investment made by the Department for Communities and a further £499,941 from the National Lottery Community Fund. Half the money went towards securing the new site while the other half will be used towards a major refurbishment.

The move, expected to be completed early next year, will see the centre’s current capacity increased from five to 12 rooms, including of three offices and nine rooms for counselling and complementary therapy.

In addition, a large training and conference room will be available for use and a dedicated room for work with children and young people. This will allow staff to continue to provide critical mental health services in the town.

It is hoped that the new location will enhance the visibility of the centre and go some way to de-stigmatising the crucial issue of mental health.

Those associated with the Koram Centre were delighted at the news. Centre manager Adrian Loughry thanked the Department for their ‘significant investment’, adding, “The money received by both the department and the National Lottery is welcomed and much appreciated. As has been noted, this relocation will increase our capacity to deliver services and the support we can offer. It is clear that demand for support around emotional health and well-being issues continues to rise and we are determined, in partnership with other local services and organisations, to do what we can to address these needs.”

In addition, Gerard McFadden, Koram Centre trustee, offered, “The purchase and refurbishment of the new premises will allow the Koram Centre to increase the number of services we offer the local community and address a wide range of emotional health and well-being issues. This is a welcome investment in the local area at a time when the demand for such services is increasing.”

Department for Communities deputy secretary Moira Doherty called the centre a ‘priority consideration’ by the department, remarking, “Having visited the new office space on Railway Street, it is clear the location and size of the new premises will increase the Koram Centre’s capacity to provide essential services including delivering a wide range of counselling support to children, adolescents and adults of all ages in the Strabane area.”