Funding boost to help ease young Limerick minds of stress
THE THIRD consecutive year of funding to help the mental health of people aged 12 to 25 in Limerick has been launched.
The VHI Health & Wellbeing Fund was launched in Limerick, with the help of Dóchas Mid-West Autism (Dóchas) support services, which operate on Parnell Street in the city.
The aim of the fund is to support projects that are “seeking to strengthen resilience in young people and help them manage anxiety”.
The Limerick-based organisation Dóchas received €5,000 last year, under the health and wellbeing fund, to deliver a series of workshops in several schools across the city and county.
These workshops were designed to decrease the fear and anxiety around transitioning from primary to secondary school for children diagnosed with autism.
Established in 2020, in partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation (IYF), non-profit organisations based in Limerick and across the country were invited to apply for financial support from the wellbeing fund.
Speaking about the impact of the programme, Cyril Killeen, Manager of Dóchas Mid-West Autism Support in Limerick said:
“With the funding we received, we supported the participants to help them navigate the transition and overcome any fears they had.
“Entering secondary school can be a daunting time for any young person but particularly young people with autism.
“I would encourage anyone working with young people in Limerick with an idea to apply.”
In the last two years, 22 youth-focused organisations across the country have been awarded grants of between €5,000 and €10,000.
In addition to making funding available, VHI is introducing a pilot programme for youth leaders focusing on trauma informed care and worker wellbeing.
The aim is to support projects within the community that strengthen resilience in young people and help them manage anxieties they may have.
To date, over 4,000 young people have been directly impacted through the Fund.
It is estimated that a further 200,000 young people have indirectly benefited from the initiative.