Health Minister Simon Hamilton has 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.”
In March, Autonomie made a public appeal to urge more families in Northern Ireland who have a child or children with a disability to apply for funding for items like clothing, sensory toys, and even family breaks after Family Fund announced families in Northern Ireland wrongly believed the funding was closed.
Visit the DHSSPS website for more information
Read more about Autonomie’s appeal
Eligible families can apply for financial assistance at familyfund.org.uk
