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Leeds Irish Health and Homes started as a steering group in 1992. The Group was set up in response to concerns about the disadvantage they saw occurring in the Irish community.
Specific concerns included:
- The high number of single homeless Irish people in Leeds, especially older men.
- The over-representation of Irish people in Leeds admitted to hospital and referred for assessment under the Mental Health Act.
- The lack of culturally appropriate support services for the Irish community in Leeds.
- The over-representation of single Irish people living in rooms and boarding houses.
- Major health inequalities being experienced by Irish people, especially single and elderly Irish people.
- The high incidence of Irish people with alcohol problems.
- The poor take up of support services by Irish people living in Leeds
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In 1996 we were constituted as an Industrial & Provident Society. Initially concentrating on supported housing we now provide a wide range of support services to the community.
Our supported housing service provides furnished accommodation for 66 single people. In 2003 we took ownership of Davitt House, a small residential unit aimed at maximising the independence of it's 6 tenants. We are proud to count Connect Housing, Places For People, Headrow Housing, Chevin Housing, Leeds East/North-East Homes and Leeds West/North-West Homes as our partners. We are looking to develop further relationships.
In addition to housing we were uncovering further needs especially for older isolated Irish people. With funding from the Irish Government and the local Health Authority we began a pilot project in 1998 looking at older people's health needs. This has now developed into an outreach team dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our community. Our funders for this include Dion, Leeds PCT, Adult Social Care and the many generous donations and bequests we get from our own community.
We also run several social groups which help to combat people's isolation.
In 2006 we launched Roisin Ban, a photographic history of the Irish in Leeds. Available in both book and exhibition format it is an excellent piece of social history.
Our latest project has secured 3 years funding from the Big Lottery and is aimed at encouraging volunteers amongst the community in order to develop a befriending scheme for older people.
As you'll see throughout this site, LIHH and it's ethos of Care, Culture and Community has grown from a small 2 worker, 8 tenant base to one where we now support over 200 clients on a weekly basis with a staff and volunteer team of over 50 people providing a wide range of services and overseen by a dedicated and skilled Management Board |
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