Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Innovation Grant For Brothers of Charity

Minister for Defence Tony Killeen, T.D., has welcomed the allocation of grant aid, totalling €160,000, awarded by the Genio Trust to support Brothers of Charity Services Clare Ltd.

The grant aid forms part of a national funding figure of €2.6m to support transition from institutional to personalised models of care in disability and mental health services.

383 applications were submitted from across Ireland, from initiatives based in both rural and urban settings; spanning different types and levels of disabilities and mental ill health; and reflecting different phases of the life cycle, e.g. children, young people and adults.

35 initiatives are being awarded grants in this round, with a second round to be announced in September, following further clarification and evaluation of the remaining shortlisted projects.

According to Minister Killeen: “The Genio Trust is a partnership group, developed by The Atlantic Philanthropies and The Office for Disability and Mental Health in the Department of Health & Children and the HSE. This funding programme, which is being facilitated by the Genio Trust, is fully in line with the objectives of Government policy as set out in ‘A Vision for Change’ and with the objectives of the National Disability Strategy.”

Minister Killeen added that the funding would be utilised to encourage innovative, personalised supports which offer better opportunities to people with disabilities and mental ill health to reach their full potential.

“The initiatives supported by this funding programme include moving and keeping people out of institutional care by supporting them to live as independently as possible in the community; actively integrating people with disabilities and mental ill health into mainstream activities; strengthening and building networks of support comprising family, friends and neighbours; and empowering people with disabilities and mental ill health to take control of their own lives”, he continued.