£1.6m Support For Carers Funding Announced

Funding of more than £1.6 million has been announced in the fourth and final round of grants from the Support for Carers Fund, the Department of Health has announced.

Following assessment, 35 organisations and charities providing vital support for carers across Northern Ireland are receiving £1,607,884 to help with a range of projects which will directly support individual carers in the community.

Grant recipients are working with adult and young carers and the activities being supported include mindfulness, wellbeing and emotional support, respite, support for social connection and digital inclusion.

The £4m Support for Carers Fund was launched by the former Health Minister in April 2021 to help community and voluntary sector organisations with charitable purposes offering support to carers. In total, 100 projects have received awards from the Fund.

Peter May, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health, said: "Unpaid carers have a very challenging role and I have huge admiration for all they do in often difficult circumstances. The Health and Social Care system depends heavily on their selfless dedication to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. The Support for Carers Fund was established in 2021 with funding made available in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A very wide range of valuable projects have received awards from the Fund and this has been important in helping to make a real and practical difference to peoples' lives."

The Fund is administered and managed by the Community Foundation NI on behalf of the Department and is now fully expended. It aims to provide grant funding to organisations with charitable status that can deliver outcomes to improve the lives and experiences of carers.

Róisín Wood, Chief Executive at the Community Foundation, said: "Carers play a crucial role in society, yet their contributions often go unnoticed despite being invaluable. Carers come from a range of backgrounds, including children, young people, and individuals who care for parents, partners, or friends of all ages. These carers face unique challenges and must juggle their caring responsibilities with school, work and other personal commitments.

"The Community Foundation takes pride in collaborating with the Department of Health to oversee the Support for Carers Fund which enables groups to extend much-needed support to these exceptional carers who make a substantial impact on society."