In-FO_Winter_2020

10 in-FO in Fermanagh & Omagh | Winter 2020 Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been many examples of our communities responding to the exceptional circumstances to help those in need. Earlier this year, the Council awarded £130,000 to 67 groups across the district to help communities respond to the impacts of the COVID-19. Here, four of those groups share their stories. Stronger Together Drumquin Community Response The Drumquin community came together to form Drumquin’s ‘ One Community, One Response Team’ to respond to local need. This included operating a food bank, putting together food parcels and distributing over 150 vouchers redeemable in local Drumquin shops to those self-isolating. 7KH JURXS DOVR SURYLGHG IXQ ĆOOHG DFWLYLW\ SDFNV IRU SULPDU\ VFKRRO FKLOGUHQ ZLWK ĆQDQFLDO VXSSRUW IURP WKH Council. One of the volunteers on the project, Frankie Donnelly VDLG ê3ULPDU\ VFKRRO FKLOGUHQ KDYH KDG WKHLU ZKROH OLYHV turned upside down and are separated from their friends and school... this activity pack has been given out to them DQG VKRXOG KHOS WKHP ĆOO WKHLU GD\Vë Vital counselling services continue throughout lockdown As the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, the Aisling Centre in Enniskillen responded quickly to ensure it could continue to deliver its counselling service throughout lockdown by moving its core psychotherapy service from face to face to telephone / e-delivery. Mobile phones and laptops purchased using grant support from the Council facilitated home working and sustained vital services. During lockdown the centre offered more than 2,300 telephone / e-counselling sessions and 66 virtual self-care sessions of yoga and mindfulness. One of the clients who availed of telephone counselling sessions GXULQJ WKLV WLPH VDLG ê+DYLQJ VRPHRQH WR WDON WR HYHQ RYHU WKH phone has helped me greatly. Thank you to my therapist for all her advice over the last number of weeks through this lockdown. &RXOG QRW KDYH PDQDJHG ZLWKRXW WKH KHOSë Photo courtesy of Jason McCartan