Health Minister Simon Hamilton today announced that the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has provided £1.57million in funding to the Family Fund.
This funding will enable the Family Fund to support families in Northern Ireland who have a child or children with a severe disability.
Minister Hamilton said: “I am delighted to announce that my Department has been able to provide this significant amount of funding to the Family Fund. It will alleviate concerns and reassure local families of my Department’s continuing commitment to supporting those who are raising disabled and seriously ill children.”
The Family Fund offers a wide range of goods and services which are focused on directly supporting the needs of the child with a disability but are equally aimed at improving the overall lot of the family affected by a disability.
The Minister continued: “I anticipate that this funding will provide approximately 4,000 local families with the necessary support to help relieve the financial burden which those families with a child with a disability would otherwise face.”
Notes to editors:
- The Family Fund is a charitable body established over 30 years ago to manage an inter-territorial fund to provide financial assistance and information to families that have a child or children with a severe disability. The Fund is funded by government departments in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to undertake this function.
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