Leafair a ‘lifeline for local people when they are most in need of it’

Now thanks to a £361,900 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund, the group can expand their services to support isolated men in the community engage in activities to improve their mental health and well-being.

This funding is part of a roll-out of more than £2million across Northern Ireland today with almost £400,000 going to the Derry area.

Leafair has previously received smaller grants of National Lottery funding over the last 20 years to improve the health of all the community, but this latest round will specifically target men in the area and improve their mental health.

For two local men the services offered by the group have been life-saving.

It was during a health check MOT, which are offered twice a year at Leafair, that Gerry McLaughlin discovered he had early stage prostate cancer. The Culmore man has praised those at Leafair for “saving his life” and being a constant source of support throughout his tough journey.

“Only for getting the tests done at Leafair I wouldn’t have been any the wiser. I didn’t feel sick or unwell at all, they don’t call it the silent killer for nothing,” said Gerry.

“A cancer diagnosis is a very difficult thing to go through and Leafair has been a tremendous help for my mental well-being ever since finding out. I’ve struggled with my mental health before and this group has been amazing at helping me through that.”

Gerry said that Leafair has been a great distraction for him and if he wasn’t attending regularly he would “be sitting in the house overthinking everything and my depression would only be getting worse and worse.”

Leafair are using the grant to develop a ‘MALE: Men: Active, Learning and Engaging in the Community’ programme to introduce isolated and disengaged men in a wide range of activities.

The money is being used to set up a Volunteer Shed as well as hosting employability training and taster sessions to increase skills and address confidence, isolation and well-being issues.

Christy Brown who has been a member of the group for the last ten years said he is delighted about the funding boost, knowing first-hand the huge benefits Leafair can have for local men.

The group was there to help him through one of the “darkest times” of his life after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2015.

“A diagnosis like that brings you to your knees, it has a huge impact on your mental health. The best thing that ever happened me was joining Leafair, they carried me through my journey and helped keep my mind occupied. If I wasn’t coming to the group every day I’d be sitting in my house thinking about what tablets I need to take and focusing on all the negatives.”

Now in remission four years, the 58-year-old praises Leafair for being a “lifeline for local people when they are most in need of it.”

Peter McDonald, manager of Leafair Community Association said; “We often find that men retreat to their homes and don’t want to admit they are suffering, thinking it’s better to just keep everything to themselves but this can have really bad repercussions.

“Leafair offers these men the support they need to live fuller, happier lives. We have men coming from all backgrounds whether it’s depression, mental health, addiction issues or marriage breakdowns. This group gives them a sense of belonging, a safe place where they can engage with other men who are going through similar situations, and a chance to open up and talk.

“At Leafair health and well-being are our priority, and the MALE project will get local men engaged in activities, whether its sporting, woodwork or volunteering within the community, to prove that there is more to life than staring out your window.”

For more information on applying for National Lottery funding visit www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk.