Coronavirus Northern Ireland: £1.5m to councils to help in Covid-19 support measures | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

Coronavirus Northern Ireland: £1.5m to councils to help in Covid-19 support measures

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA has released £1.5 million to local councils as she steps up her Department’s efforts to help citizens get safely through the Covid-19 health crisis.

The money will come from the Covid-19 Community Support Fund to target need and alleviate poverty.

 

 

The Minister pledged her continuing commitment to do all that she can to ensure that our society gets safely through this crisis and is in line with her priorities on poverty, targeting objective need and embedding a rights-based approach.

She told Newry Times, “I recognise Councils have a unique community insight and reach at grassroots level and are well placed to ensure that citizens receive much-needed help. 

“This money will provide (a) assistance to those at risk due to financial stress; (b) ensuring access to food for those most in need and (c) to help connect those living alone or in rural and border areas that are likely to experience greater challenges in accessing services. 

 

 

“This £1.5 million is an initial tranche of money, and more will follow,” she revealed.

The Minister paid tribute to the work of the voluntary and community sector whose role in society has never been more needed.

She continued, “I am heartened but not surprised by the tireless dedication and commitment of people from all walks of life who have stepped forward to help our vulnerable citizens with deliveries of food and medicine so that they can remain safely in their homes.

“Over the coming weeks we will all rely on this selfless commitment of many volunteers as our local councils continue to work with the sector to ensure that helps gets to where it is most needed.”

 

 

The Minister also said that she was listening to pleas for financial help from grassroots organisations who are working with vulnerable people and that she was looking at a wide range of ways to support them. 

 

Keep up to date with all the latest Northern Ireland Coronavirus / Covid-19 news HERE

 

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=70113

Posted by on Apr 13 2020. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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