Lottery funds to improve mental health of Ballymena residents

Community Focus Learning has been awarded a grant from the Big Lottery Fund’s Healthy Minds NI programme which supports activities to improve the mental health and well-being of people across Northern Ireland.

The group has been awarded a grant of £10,000 to run the MindIT project which will provide life skills training and IT training to isolated local people over the age of 25.

The life skills training will boost people’s confidence and self-esteem, while the IT training will give them the skills to communicate with other people using social networking, emailing, Facebook and Skype.

“The aim is to get people to integrate with each other and bring them up to speed with new technology,” said Centre Manager Anne McKinley.

The computer courses and personal development workshops will take place at Community Focus Learning in Ballymena and Portglenone.

Said Anne: “The project will help increase people’s self-esteem and confidence, and make them aware of the support and advice that is available out there from other outside organisations. 

“The knowledge and skills they developed will encourage new friendships, reduce their feelings of loneliness and feelings of isolation, and give them the ability to deal with the everyday pressures of life. We are going to increase people’s emotional well-being so they can have healthier minds and bodies.

“Our MindIT project starts in September, so people should enrol now for this free programme as there are limited places. Just contact Mary at 02825 821 184 or email [email protected].”

John McKee, who has a long-term mental health difficulty, explained that Community Focus Learning has been a big support in his life.

“I took part in a course which taught me various strategies for coping with mental ill health and this was invaluable,” he said.

“Being able to share and listen to the descriptions of similar problems by other people made me feel I was not alone or isolated. There was great camaraderie and great support, and the course gave me the opportunity to meet people and make new friends. Without a doubt I will be signing up to the Mind IT course and cannot wait for it to begin.”

Frank Hewitt, the Big Lottery Fund’s NI Chair said: “The Healthy Minds programme supports activities at the heart of local communities. Improving people’s mental health and well-being can have a positive impact on family life, work and social life – the community as a whole.

“I am delighted to be announcing these grants which will make a major difference to the lives of many people.”

The Healthy Minds programme has now closed for applications. To find out more about our other open programmes visit: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/northernireland