Charity gets new premises after lottery funding boost

Charity gets new premises after lottery funding boost

15 November 2017

A HIGHLY acclaimed life-changing charity based in Downpatrick is moving to new premises.

The Life Change, Changes Lives service currently based at the Grove shopping centre, is moving to vacant premises in Market Street and it’s hoped the relocation will be completed before Christmas.

News of the plan comes after recent confirmation that Life Change, Changes Lives (LCCL) has secured charitable status.

The organisation provides professional and confidential counselling, mental health and addiction support, suicide intervention and helps minimise social isolation alongside encouraging wellness, recovery and family support. 

In addition it provides opportunities for people with a variety of problems to engage in constructive activities, including giving new life to old furniture through the Pop Art initiative.

The couple who run the initiative, Manus and Eilish Teague, are delighted the organisation has been able to secure new premises and want to publicly thank their current landlord for all his help over the past few years.

Manus and Eilish say they are delighted to secure new premises to carry on the important work they do, particularly as the number of people coming forward for help continues to rise. 

They say there is an increasing need for the services the charity provides and are pleased students from the South Eastern Regional College campus will be helping refurbish the premises ahead of the move. The couple are also appealing to any tradesmen or local businesses who wish to assist with the work to get in touch.

“We have a lot of work to do, but are delighted with the support from the South Eastern Regional College and over the coming days we will be working with them to draw up a detailed plan of what work is exactly required,” explained Manus.

“We are taking over the ground floor and the first floor which has eight rooms which will be ideal for the counselling service we provide. We were on the lookout for a new base and are pleased to have secured this one.”

Manus described the layout of the new premises as “ideal” and explained the charity will be able to maximise the use of the space at its disposal, with the organisation’s shop which sells upscaled furniture located at the front of the building.

“We have been at the enterprise hub for the past three years and have been fighting for funding during this time. A number of applications to the Big Lottery for financial support were unsuccessful and we lost heart and nearly gave up,” he said.

“However, we kept going and subsequently secured Big Lottery funding, even though it was only one third of what we requested.”

Manus said the move to Market Street will also allow the charity to open a dedicated counselling centre, an artist therapy centre and an area to sell furniture. He said LCCL will also be able to offer rooms to rent to other like-minded organisations.

“Money continues to be tight, but we have secured enough Lottery funding to meet our overheads over the next two years. Eilish and I will continue to work in a voluntary capacity and if there is any individual or organisation that would like to help us financially we would be delighted to hear from them,” he continued.

As preparations for the relocation continue, Manus and Eilish remain keen to see new people coming forward if they are suffering from a range of problems to see how Life Change, Changes Lives can help them. They are also keen to hear from businesses wishing to donate paint, tiles, carpets or any other fixtures and fittings, or tradesmen who can offer their time.

Eilish added: “The local community can play a big part helping us ready the premises for opening in a few weeks’ time. Our service is dedicated towards local people suffering from a variety of problems and conditions and we are only too delighted to provide the services we do.”

The local charity is holding a street collection in Downpatrick this Saturday and a fundraising bag pack in the Asda store on December 22. Anyone in the community in need of the support the charity provides is asked to call in at the Grove shopping centre to speak with staff, email lifechangechangeslives@gmail.com or telephone 07731 582332.