£3m initiative offers rural aid

Phase II of the Project - ‘Maximising Access in Rural Areas’ has been set up to encourage uptake of grants, benefits and services and is a joint initiative betweenthe Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and The Public Health Agency.

They have partnered with local organisation, TADA Rural Support Network to manage and deliver the project in the rural Lisburn area.

MARA’s aims are to improve the health and wellbeing of rural residents living in, or at risk of, poverty or social isolation.

TADA’s role is to provide a home visit for rural, vulnerable people and inform them of grants and benefits they are entitled to and services they can avail of.

TADA Rural Support Network is responsible for the Rural Lisburn area over the next 12 months, with nine key areas targeted - Drumbo, Ballymacbrennan, Hillsborough, Glenavy, Maghaberry, Moira, Maze, Ballinderry and Dromara.

Rural Enablers have been employed and trained to carry out one-to-one household visits and TADA Rural Support Network are working closely with community groups, councillors, health workers, churches etc to assist with identifying households who could benefit from the project.

If you, or someone you know living in one of the areas listed could benefit from the MARA Project, please contact Lycrecia or Andrea, TADA Rural Support Network, Unit 10, 19 Carn Business Park, Portadown BT63 5WG. Telephone : 02838 398888 Email: [email protected].