A trauma centre for the victims and survivors of violence in Northern Ireland was boosted today by a £6.75 million (sterling) package announced by the Government.
Northern Ireland Office Victims Minister Mr Des Browne pledged £1.5 million to the recently-established Centre for Trauma and Transformation which draws on lessons from treating victims of the Omagh bombing.
It is hoped the £1.5 million will help the Omagh-based centre develop a range of treatment services, advance education and learning about the assessment and treatment of trauma and promote and take forward research into the most effective ways of providing support for those affected by violence.
Mr Browne also announced that out of the £6.75 million funding; £3 million would go to a core funding scheme for groups working with victims and survivors over the next two years while an appraisal of how the scheme has operated takes place.
Some £1.5 million will go to the Northern Ireland government's strategy for addressing the needs of survivors and victims of violence across a range of ministerial departments. This matches the £1.5 million announced by Stormont Finance Minister Mr Mark Durkan on December 3rd.
The remaining £750,000 has been allocated to the reintroduction of a Community Relations Council-run grants scheme for small or newly established victims groups for projects involving children and adults affected by violence.
PA