Organisations across the county are distributing resource packs that focus on mental wellbeing during the coronavirus emergency.
The care packs for adults include materials that support mental and physical fitness, stay-at-home activities, and basic food, as well as health and hygiene products.
For children and young adults, packs described as ‘wonderful, different, and inspiring’ include educational games, toys, books, seeds and puzzles.
Galway Rural Development gave €20,000 to organisations in Galway through its SICAP grants to provide the packs.
Among the organisations distributing them are Involve Youth Project Loughrea, Accessibility Ballinasloe, the Western Traveller Centre, Forum Connemara, Oughterard Clann Resource Centre and the Galway Centre for Independent Living.
Commenting on the Covid-19 crisis, CEO of GRD Steve Dolan highlighted the army of SICAP, Tús, RSS and CE staff who have been keeping-up the spirits of those cocooning.
“This has been a mental health challenge as much as a physical health challenge,” said Steve Dolan.
“The lockdown has been experienced differently by different individuals and we must
ensure no one is forgotten as we begin the next phase of the county response.
“Through our SICAP grants we have provided €20,000 to organisations toward the provision of resources packs in recent weeks.
“Having initially partnered with national and local organisations, like Tusla and Gort Family Resource Centre, we have now expanded the initiative county-wide.”
In total, Galway Rural Development has approved more than €80,000 in grants to organisations during the Covid-19 emergency, and grants of up to €2,500 are still available.
