Lottery funding of £120,000 goes to Highland health support service
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A Highland support service for people with long-term health conditions has been hailed as "a great example of community activity in action" after securing a £120,000 award from the National Lottery Community Fund.
The three-year funding package will allow MySelf-Management to continue and expand its support for adults living with long-term conditions and long Covid, helping them to live a full and active life by learning self-management techniques that can enhance their wellbeing.
MySelf-Management, based in Dingwall and previously known as Let’s Get On With It Together, became an independent Scottish charitable incorporated organisation (SCIO) in April this year. The service delivers e-learning, online groups and face-to-face, peer-led self-management support.
MySelf-Management has 14 Living Better groups running in communities across the Highlands, including Wick, Thurso, Dornoch, Tain, Dingwall, Muir of Ord, Inverness and Nairn, with more planned.
The group recently launched its updated Living with Long Covid e-learning course. Details of what is available are on the MySelf-Management website, www.myself-management.org
The manager of MySelf-Management, Joanne McCoy, said: “We are grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund and all its players for awarding this funding. The pandemic has been a challenging time for people living with long-term health conditions, with many facing social isolation and loneliness and a fear of returning to society.
"MySelf-Management is pleased to have three years of funding to enable us to continue to offer peer support to our members and to be able to support more people in Highland through our online services and face-to-face meetings.”
MySelf-Management member Claire Fraser said: “I’m delighted that this group has secured more funding because the things that people need more than anything after the last few years are consistency, connection, caring and compassion – and MySelf-Management has played a vital role in providing these to myself and many others in the community.
"I have been a group member for a number of years now and I genuinely don’t think I could have got through these last few years without the support, the training and the friendships. It is genuinely a godsend to have a place to go and feel supported, cared for with no judgement and just relax.”
The National Lottery Community Fund's chairperson for Scotland, Kate Still, said: “National Lottery funding can make amazing things happen in local communities across the country. This project delivered by MySelf-Management SCIO is a great example of community activity in action, showing just what can be achieved not only during the festive season but all year round when people come together for a common cause or to help others.
"National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is helping to support this vital work which is making a real difference to so many.”
