APPROXIMTATELY 550 older adults in the Ballymena area are set to benefit through the expansion of Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership’s Delivering Options through Tailored Solutions (Dots) social enterprise, following a £100,000 funding injection from The Gallaher Trust.
Established in October 2024 as a pilot scheme, Dots is a social enterprise and part of Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership, that reinvests its profits into the local community to support older people living in the area. The organisation offers high-quality, practical support that enables older people to remain at home for as long as possible by providing companionship, light cleaning and laundry services, assisted shopping and transport and accompaniment to appointments.
Over the next three years, Dots is aiming to employ and train 24 people, specifically targeting the older workforce, provide support for up to 550 disadvantaged adults within the Ballymena area and to generate additional income for its partnership.
Welcoming the funding from The Gallaher Trust, Jenny Marshall, Executive Director of Community Programmes at Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership said: “This support will make a real difference to older adults in Ballymena, allowing Dots to expand its reach and services to hundreds of people who rely on practical, compassionate assistance from people they can trust. Beyond helping older people to remain in their own homes for a longer period of time, this funding will also enable us to create meaningful employment opportunities, particularly for members of the older workforce, which is a vital part of our community.
“At Dots, our mission is to strengthen connections, provide opportunities and companionship, and ensure that older adults continue to live with dignity and purpose. We’re delighted to receive this generous support from The Gallaher Trust.”
Since its inception in 2017, The Gallaher Trust has supported social enterprises, charities and organisations with projects aimed at boosting job creation, skills development and assistance for disadvantaged adults. To date, the Trust has committed £3.1 million to a breadth of delivery partner projects which have helped create 486 jobs, upskill over 1,700 adults and provide support to over 2,100 disadvantaged adults.
According to James Perry MBE, a Trustee at The Gallaher Trust, supporting adults of all ages and backgrounds in Ballymena is vitally important.
“On behalf of the Trust, we have always been committed to supporting projects that create lasting, positive change in local communities,” James said.
“We’re delighted to extend this support to Mid and East Antrim Agewell and the Dots social enterprise. Dots is a much-needed service, combining high-quality care with meaningful employment, helping older people remain independent for longer, whilst giving them a purpose and also strengthening the workforce.
“Supporting adults of all ages and backgrounds is vitally important to the Trust and we’re confident that this funding will go a long way towards improving the lives of older people in Ballymena.”
