Warm welcome to Derrytresk proposals
THE PROSPECT of a new Rural Health and Emotional Wellbeing Centre has been welcomed by local suicide prevention charity the Niamh Louise Foundation.
The charity have been working closely with the Derrytresk Community Development Assocation on the plans and are hopeful that the proposals will get the green light.
Welcoming the developments Catherine McBennett of the Niamh Louise Foundation said: “This is a joint project between the Niamh Louise Foundation and the Derrytresk Community.
“We would envisage this project as an extension of the work we already do in Killybrackey although on a bigger scale.
“This scheme has a bigger vision than anything that is available in this area at present and we hope to be able to link up Public Health Agency and the local health trust.
“The proposed centre can act as a Research Centre and a Centre of Excellence for anyone struggling with their emotional well being and will help to research further preventative therapies and facilities.
“The centre will allow anyone in distress to make use of the sports facilities and complimentary therapies to help prevent further distress.
“I would envisage the proposed building serving the entire SWARD (South West Action for Rural Development) area helping to empower those with problems to a better physical and emotional well being.”
One of those heavily involved in the plans is local business man Cathal Hagan. Hagan’s colleague Mickey Rea, explained how the idead came about
“One day while myself and Cathal [Hagan] were enroute to a meeting in Dungannon when Cathal asked me to pull into the Niamh Louise Foundation.
“Cathal had known that there was a study completed about mental health issues in the SWARD area which was taking in Derrytresk, and stretching as far Magherafelt and Cookstown.
“He also knew that the SWARD funding deadline was coming up and his vision at that stage was to put some form of mental health facility related to well being and physical activity down on the site that was in Derrytresk already.”
Working with the Derrytresk Community Development Assocation and the Niamh Louise Foundation, Hagan and Rea got their plans together for a state of the art centre within a matter of days.
Now just a matter of weeks later are awaiting feedback from the second stage of their economic appraisal.
“We’ve applied for £856,000 for the project which would be made up of 85% grant aid and 15% matched funding which as an association then we’d have to find if we get the green light on the project,” said Rea.
Both the Derrytresk Community Development Assocation and the Niamh Louise Foundation met with Dr Eddie Rooney, Head of the Public Health Agency for Northern Ireland and with Gerry Bleakley, Head of the Public Health Agency Southern area in Derrytresk to discuss the prospect of a new Centre of Excellence and it is one excites both agencies.
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Weather for Dungannon
Sunday 26 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
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Wind direction: South west
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