Families appeal to Positive Futures

Editorial Department • Published 5 Aug 2010 16:30 0 Comments

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Caitlin, Paddy and Colm with John and Joan O'Boyle from Derrylin who are hoping for a reprieve of the Positive Futures project.

A meeting will be held in Lisnaskea next Tuesday night to discuss the pending closure of Positive Futures.

Several families will meet face-to-face with local representatives from across the political spectrum to appeal for their help.

As this newspaper revealed last week, 44 families will lose a vital part of their everyday lives when the services closes next month.

The Western Trust says they can't afford to fund the scheme because the Health and Social Care Board can't provide them with the money.

In a statement to The Impartial Reporter yesterday, the Health and Social Care Board explained its case rather firmly.

"The Board had assisted the Western Health and Social Care Trust by providing an additional year's funding to Positive Futures for 2009/10 to support it in developing a self-sustaining programme model that would enable its work to continue once funding ceased. It was clearly put to Positive Futures that the money was for 2009-10 only. The Board is not in a position to be able to provide further funding within its financial budget."

Assembly Member Arlene Foster is to meet with John Compton, Chairman of the Health and Social Care Board on Monday night to fight on behalf of the families.

A spokeswoman for the Positive Futures lobbying group said yesterday: "We look forward to hearing how Arlene gets on with her meeting. We also look forward to meeting with local politicians on Tuesday night. It's important to point out that this is not about politics. We just hope that these men and woman can help boost our case," she said.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 05 Aug 10

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