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£1m investment to create 'warm, safe and healthy homes' in the West
The Western Home Environmental Assessment Project was launched on Thursday 28th January 2009 at the Sliverbirch Hotel, Omagh. WHEAP is a 5 - year project aimed at reducing home accidents, fuel poverty and fear of crime as well improving the physical and mental health and wellbeing of residents in the community. The project promotes “Warm, Safe, and Healthy Homes for the West”
The project, which was awarded almost £950,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Safe and Well programme, will support families with children under 5 yrs and persons over 65 yrs with issues of safety, security and health. The project is also funded by the Public Health Agency, and the 5 Councils in the West, Strabane, Omagh, Derry, Fermanagh and Limavady.
Chairman of Strabane District Council, Cllr Kieran McGuire welcomed the project and commented that “In my role as Councillor, I have talked to many who have expressed concerns to me in precisely the areas that are being targeted as part of the Western Home Environmental Assessment Project,” he encouraged guests to use the opportunity of the launch to “learn what this exciting and innovative programme has to offer.”
Chief Environmental Health Officer Paddy Cosgrove explained “Home Assessment Officers based in each council area will visit homes and carry out assessments around home safety, home security and energy efficiency. Safety and security equipment may be supplied to homes visited and assessed. In addition the officers will be able to carry out benefit checks to assist residents to maximise their income, helping combat fuel poverty.” In addition Paddy described the project as “innovative” and a “method of signposting members of the community into the wide range of services available to them, improving their overall health & well being.”
Paddy also welcomed the wide range of sectors in attendance at the launch, and highlighted the importance of these statutory, community and voluntary sectors working in partnership to deliver services on the ground.
Frank Hewitt, Big Lottery Fund NI Chair, said: “The grants awarded from the Safe and Well programme mark a major investment by the Big Lottery Fund into creating partnerships to run innovative projects, helping people of all ages to work together to promote wellbeing and tackle health and safety issues.
“The Western Home Environmental Assessment Project will make a lasting difference to safety and well-being in the home and community for older people and families with under-fives.”
Mary Mc Mahon, Chair of the Public Health Agency, congratulating all of those involved in securing this substantial funding, said: “I am delighted to be able to thank the Big Lottery Fund for funding this project which will contribute to better health and well-being in the West. The role of the Public Health Agency is to improve health and well-being and reduce health inequalities using collective action to address common concerns and resolve problems. This project will build on, and extend, the excellent joint working arrangements between health, local Government and wider social partners, that have been happening so successfully in the Western area for many years. I’d like to commend all involved on what has been achieved to date and am delighted to see their work continuing to make a difference to the lives of the most disadvantaged”.
If you want to find out more about the Western Home Environmental Assessment Project or how you can register for a home visit in the Strabane District Council area please contact Olivia Lagan, Home Assessment Officer on 028 71381311
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