The government has today announced €1 million in funding for initiatives to support the health and wellbeing of Ukrainian refugees.
The funding will be allocated to Local Authority Community Response Forums across the country.
Announcing the fund, Minister of State with Responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton TD, said: “Healthy Ireland works in partnership with Local Government and communities to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in Ireland through the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme and the Healthy Cities and Counties initiative. This additional funding will enable our Local Authority partners to assist Ukrainian refugees to integrate into their communities and build healthy lives here in Ireland.”
The funding will go to projects that have been chosen by the Local Authorities and local partners based on local needs. A number of projects focus on supporting integration into the local community, including after school clubs for children and woodland walks for adults, where Ukrainian refugees can meet and form connections with others in the community.
Integration projects also include family excursions, such as a family day trip to the Wild Lights experience in Dublin Zoo, giving adults and children the opportunity for a fun day away together while meeting other families.
A range of projects focus on physical activity and movement, including yoga, dance, and adapted physical activity sessions aimed at older or medically vulnerable people. A number of projects also offer therapeutic interventions to provide support in coping with the trauma of war and displacement, including one to one and group counselling support for adults and play and art therapy for children.
Paul Dunne, Chief Executive Officer Local Government Management Agency said:
“Locally led initiatives are key to the health and wellbeing of communities. This fund builds on the work Local Authorities are doing to support the physical, mental and social wellbeing of everyone in their communities.”
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