Big Grant will aid isolated older people in Ballymena

Training for Women Network Ltd has been awarded a grant of £489,476 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 will use the grant to run support services and activities for isolated older women who are involved in seven community organisations across Northern Ireland.

These will include the Loughgiel Community Association and activities, which will be run at the local Millennium Centre, will aim to improve women’s mental and physical health, offer them financial support and reduce their isolation and fear.

They will also include complementary therapies, health and well being sessions, benefits advice, reminiscence workshops and IT skills.

The project will also bring young and older people in the local community together to take part in volunteering activities, and women from each of the seven areas will get the chance to sit on a Northern Ireland wide forum where they can raise issues and get more involved in improving their communities.

“There are many older women who are isolated within their communities, they are frightened of going outside their own doors, they feel left behind by technology and computers and many are unaware of their rights,” said Chief Executive Officer Norma Shearer.

“Older women are also at risk of poverty and are dealing with physical and mental ill health, while some have been victims of crime or are living in fear of it and they often lack confidence.

“Often women don’t have access to transport and that stops them getting out, so we’ll collect them and take them to the Millennium centre where we will run activities that improve their confidence and self esteem”.

She continued: “We will give them the chance to meet new people and old friends and stimulate their minds. We’ll also teach them new skills such as using computers, email and Facebook so they can keep in touch with friends and family.

“Our innovative Northern Ireland-wide forum will provide a voice for older women on issues affecting them, and this will give them confidence to become active in their communities and bring about positive change.”

Mary Martha McAuley, 64, from Loughgiel, had to leave work a year ago due to ill health. “I cannot drive and when I am stuck at home I get so lonely and depressed. Sometimes I don’t see many people,” she said. “I have started coming to the Lunch Club at Loughgiel once a week and it’s just been fantastic. I see my friends and have a nice, healthy lunch. It’s great to be out and about and I don’t know where I would be without it.”

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”.