Welcome boost to services for Older People in Carrickfergus

9 Jun 2022

Over £8,000 has been awarded to local groups in the Carrickfergus area aimed at boosting services supporting older people the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland and the Gill’s Charity Fund, is delighted to announce.

Funding of up to £2,000 was available to support the physical and mental wellbeing of older people through activities that reduce isolation, support independence and enable active participation of older people in community decision-making, and addressing issues facing their sector.

John Richardson, previous Secretary of the Gill’s Charity said,

“It is wonderful that the Gill’s Charity Fund has been able to support these groups. The Gill’s Charity was originally established in 1761 from the Will of Henry Gill and for 260 years the Charity has been supporting the Carrickfergus community. I am pleased and encouraged that now under the auspices of the Community Foundation, the Fund is continuing to help groups supporting older people in Carrickfergus”.

Marcus Cooper, Fund Development Manager at the Community Foundation said:

“We are happy to be able to make awards to a number of groups in the Carrickfergus area.

“From projects ranging from Good Morning Carrickfergus, which is a valuable lifeline to the older residents in the town ensuring daily connections, to the Carrickfergus Music Festival Association who are actively seeking to get older people involved, knowing that music has no boundaries, there are many ways in which a cherished generation in Carrickfergus will benefit.   

Joan Stephenson: Chairperson of Good Morning Carrickfergus said:

“We are delighted with this support. Our service provides a Monday-Friday telephone befriending, support and alert service, giving much needed reassurance and a sense of community and belonging to vulnerable adults and the elderly in Carrickfergus, Greenisland and Whitehead.

“The service is provided by our faithful Good Morning volunteers and managed by the Service Coordinator, Elaine Rajkumar, who also provides and arranges additional wraparound support when needed.

“Over the entire period of COVID, we had to find a different way of working and as a result of many volunteers being willing and keen to work from home, we were able to sustain our core telephone befriending, support and alert calls, without exception. This helped reduce isolation and loneliness over this unprecedented period of time, when families and friends were unable to visit.

“The Gill’s grant will certainly help us maintain this valuable service to the community.”