Portadown Wellness Centre

This charity is based in Portadown in County Armagh in Northern Ireland. It has an overall vision to help people in the local community to recover from mental illness, regain their confidence and self-worth and become happier more fulfilled individuals.  The Centre offers various activity sessions, practical workshops, as well as inspirational talks, counselling and therapy.

The Allen Lane Foundation agreed a grant at its June 2024 meeting. The funding of £3,000 is contributing towards specifically designed programmes aimed at improving the education, skills and overall wellness of 28 young people. Many face challenges including being on the brink of exclusion from school or being excluded. The aim is to foster new skills and resilience, and hopefully lead to reintegrating into education. The programmes will cover woodwork, pottery, artwork and cooking, and each will run for ten weeks with a maximum of seven young people participating. Intended outcomes of the work are: to foster a sense of community and solidarity among young people, demonstrating that they are not alone, through shared experiences and supportive friendships; to provide opportunities for life skills; and to instil hope and motivation for the young people for a brighter future through the provision of positive experiences.

www.portadownwellnesscentre.com