Good Morning Ballycastle Service Receives Funding Boost from Housing Executive
The Good Morning Ballycastle free confidential telephone service is delighted at having received a £5,000 grant from the Housing Executive’s Community Safety Fund to support its work with isolated and vulnerable people across the former Moyle area.
The funding will help the service continue its free daily calls for the next four months, offering companionship, reassurance and signposting to other organisations and agencies when needed.
Noeleen Connolly, Housing Executive Team Leader in Ballycastle, praised the project saying: “We are so happy to help Good Morning Ballycastle brighten up the days of so many in the Moyle district.
“A simple good morning call can be worth a lot to isolated and vulnerable people and no one knows that better than the amazing volunteers, alongside Brenda Boyle, the Project Manager and Coordinator.
“Hearing Mark Alloway, a service user, describing the service as a lifeline is testament to the importance of this service which is used by many of our tenants.”
Brenda expressed her gratitude for the funding, saying, “This is a significant amount of money and we are extremely grateful to the Housing Executive.
“Sometimes our call is the only one that service users receive in the day; it can make a real difference to their wellbeing.
“As well as a morning chat we can advise clients of suitable activities or update them of anything of interest happening in their area as well as getting assistance to carry out simple home repairs or small gardening services.
“Similarly if there are any issues or concerns they may have, the volunteers will indicate were to get help and advice.
“I absolutely love what I do and particularly enjoy when service users get together for social events. It is rewarding to see them enjoying each other’s company in an environment other than their own home, where many spend their time alone.
“I would encourage anyone who feels they would benefit from our service to give us a call.”