The Changing Lives Initiative is a new cross border project to support families with children at risk of ADHD.
The initiative is being supported by an award of €2.7m by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and will be focused on County Louth, West Belfast and the Argyll & Bute region in Scotland. The programme is set to benefit over 2,000 families in these regions.
As many as 5 to 6% of school aged children are affected by ADHD. The Changing Lives Initiative is a community-based programme. It aims to create a better understanding about ADHD and provide an intervention programme for families with children (3-7) experiencing behaviours consistent with ADHD. As well as working with families the programme will provide training for those working with young children, in particular teachers and early years professionals. The programme will provide internationally recognised good practice models of intervention for children with ADHD.
The new Initiative will be delivered across County Louth, Colin/West Belfast, and the Argyll & Bute region of Scotland. There are five partner organisations involved: Archways (lead partner), Colin Neighbourhood Partnership, Dundalk Institute of Technology, The Genesis Programme (Louth Leader Partnership) and NHS Highland. The project will be delivered locally by The Genesis Programme.
Match-funding for the project has been provided by the Department for Health in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health in Ireland and NHS Highland.
Mr. Frank O’Brien, Chairperson, Louth Leader Partnership, Mairead McGuinness MEP & Ciarán Reid, CEO, Louth Leader Partnership