Minister allocates £300,000 to victims fund

Victims Minister Angela Smith has announced a further allocation of £300,000 from the Victims' Strategy Implementation Fund.

The funding aims to deliver practical help and services to victims and survivors of Northern Ireland's 'Troubles'.

Angela Smith said: "This allocation of funding will support projects that are aimed at increasing awareness of the particular needs of victims and survivors and further developing the range and quality of services available to address those needs.

"For some time now I have been inviting views from victims/survivors and other interested parties in order to ascertain what improvements Government can make in its next phase of victims' policy.

"I know from the responses received that areas such as trauma services and trauma training, improving standards of therapeutic services and easily accessible information are important issues for those who have suffered most as a result of the conflict."

The Strategy Implementation Fund was created to provide resources for government departments and agencies to deliver projects and services that benefit victims.

It also supports work on a range of training and awareness activities aimed at increasing the skills of key stakeholders working in the victims/survivors sector, resulting in improved delivery of better quality services in the field.

(MB)