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Big Lottery Fund Support ADD-NI


ADD-NI is delighted to announce that the Big Lottery Fund NI have supported us in offering a range of support services and programmes to assist young people with AD/HD who are disenfranchised from education, coming to the attention of the police through anti-social behaviour or those gravitating into the justice system or custodial environments.


These programmes will help improve young people’s self-esteem and provide opportunities for young people with ADHD who have dropped out of education, are involved in or at risk of getting involved in crime and young people who are in care.
 
Director Sarah Salters explained that the project will help isolated young people in Northern Ireland cope with the impact of their condition, manage their behaviour and build their self-esteem and sense of self-worth. “AD/HD is a most common behavioural disorder amongst young people. It affects every aspect of a young persons life, and is often misunderstood as bad behaviour.”
 
“We will be working with young people referred from organisations including the health trusts, PSNI, Probation Board and the youth justice system’s.” 
 
She continued: “We will offer psycho-educational programmes to help the young people understand their condition, how it impacts on their behaviour and how to manage the condition on daily basis. AD/HD is a most manageable condition and when young people understand this they become more confident and realise they have an immense amount of talent.”
 
As well as providing support services for specific groups of young people, Big Lottery Funds support has now enabled us to establish our Post Intervention Support Service. which has been long requested by young people who wish to continue to engage with the Centre after having taken part and completed an ADD-NI young people’s programme.

This service will give young people with AD/HD the opportunity to show off their various talents and creative skills which they aim to display in an exhibition of their work in Belfast City Hall, at the invitation of the Mayor of Belfast.
 
Nathan McConville, 15, from west Belfast, was diagnosed with AD/HD aged 10. “I was seen as a troublemaker when I was in school because I couldn’t control my behaviour and I was always talking back,” he said. I felt like an outsider and got quite depressed because I always felt I was different.  I had low self esteem and I used to bunk off school."
 
“Then I came to ADDNI and it’s really turned my life around. They listen to me and help teach me ways to cope with my behaviour. I’m much more controlled now and I’ve met loads of new friends there who are in similar situations to me. They are just great!"  
 
For further information on the award and breakdown of areas set to benefit click here.