Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has welcomed additional investment of over £100 million to establish an ePharmacy programme and a new project to provide stronger support and earlier intervention for children and families in need of help.
Both initiatives have received funding through the Public Service Transformation Bid as follows:
- £42 million for ePharmacy and;
- £29.2 million for Together for Families.
The National Lottery Community Fund has also committed an additional £30 million to the Together for Families project – its first strategic investment of this kind in Northern Ireland.
Together for Families is a new transformational model of supporting children and families that marks a decisive shift towards earlier intervention, stronger family support and more joined up working to ensure families can access the right help, at the right time and in the right place.
The model, which has whole-system support, was developed in close collaboration between the statutory, community and voluntary sectors and provides a framework to drive change in a coordinated and consistent way.
Minister Nesbitt added: “This initiative is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the life chances of children and families across Northern Ireland. It reflects a shared determination to work differently, bringing partners together across the system with a clear focus on delivering better outcomes for children and families and the delivery of support in a way which is seamless, trauma-informed, non-judgmental and, above all, compassionate.
“I want to express my sincere thanks for the support provided by the National Lottery Community Fund, which has committed half of the funding required for implementation. That is a significant vote of confidence in both the ambition of Together for Families and the power of partnership between the statutory, community and voluntary sectors to deliver meaningful change.”
Kate Beggs, The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland Director, added: “Across Northern Ireland, many families are facing increasing pressures, from financial hardship and child poverty, to rising mental health needs.
“Too often support only reaches families once challenges have reached crisis point. At its heart, this investment is about helping children and families access support earlier, through trusted community organisations and effective partnerships across services. The voluntary and community sector plays a vital role in this, bringing deep local knowledge and strong relationships that help families get the support they need.”
