Honouring the 50th anniversary of Inspire in Omagh: decades of devotion.

Inspire is pleased to mark its 50th anniversary, a noteworthy turning point in its history of
kindness and assistance. It was first called The Beacon Centre, then The Niamh Louise
Foundation, and finally Inspire. The programs have improved the mental health of a large
number of participants.

Originally established in Belfast 65 years ago by Lady Margaret Wakehurst in Belfast, since then
has spread to other places around Ireland, such as Omagh. According to their annual report, the
organization now operates at 67 sites, providing essential services and support to 6,618
individuals grappling with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, and addiction challenges. This
expansion exemplifies Inspire’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life for many and its
integral role in fostering a more inclusive and understanding society.

In Anderson House, Inspire works diligently to ensure that everyone receives care. Upon
entering the hallway, a gleaming gold plaque awaits admiration from all who pass by. It
embodies the decades of devotion in Omagh. Also, members are getting ready for a highly
anticipated week in a cold fall by immersing themselves in a frenzy of creation. An assortment of
arts and crafts will be used to decorate the Strule Arts Center’s consistent white walls.

“The services provided have helped many members.”

The centre manager, Hanora Raflewski, works in her office next to the reception area, where she
oversees staff training, rotas, annual meetings, and monthly attendance reports. She also chooses
which programmes to provide every three months, for instance, young people’s groups, anxiety
management with yoga. These are funded by members, so fundraising is important.

Talking to Ulster University, Raflewski, highlights the charity’s altruistic nature in a brief
overview of the service: “With 8 employees, we assist over 80 individuals in Omagh. In addition
to our Community Wellbeing Service, which offers a program of assistance from Anderson
House, we now have a Floating Assistance service that helps individuals stay in their homes and
keep their tenancies. The services provided have helped many members.”

Raflewski does admit that there are challenges: “The Mental Health Recovery team currently
requires referrals, thus if a client is not already seeing the team as an outpatient, they must first
see their general practitioner (GP) in order to receive a referral from the Mental Health Recovery
team. The referral procedure takes longer as a result. After a recommendation is made, there is
now a one-year waiting list before services may be accessed. These waiting lists may be reduced
if there were additional workers.”

“It helped me to have something to get up for.”

Gabrielle has been with Inspire since 2016 and the 50th anniversary holds great significance for
her. When being interviewed by Ulster University, she recalls the turning point when her
Northern Ireland Housing Executive patch manager told her about Inspire. “My patch manager
provided me with information on Inspire’s Floating Support Service since they knew I was being
bullied by my neighbours and wanted more help. My GP then recommended me for one-on-one
assistance. This allowed me to manage the stressors in my life at the time with the assistance of
my floating support worker.”

Initially, she was connected to the Floating Support Service, where a dedicated support worker
helped her navigate the complex challenges in her life. The loss of her mother, when she was
seventeen had left a lingering impact on her mental health, “she passed away unexpectedly, three
weeks before my A-levels, and five months before I left home to attend university, I have
struggled with mental health concerns. Which led to housing issues, persistent legal troubles,
banking complications, and unmanageable contracts. I found relief with my support worker by
my side as we tackled these issues together, attending court on multiple occasions and
advocating for me.”

Gabrielle says “In addition, I developed an alcohol addiction, and my child was placed into
temporary care. I am currently twenty years sober thanks to addiction treatment.”
Having retired from the Civil Service in Belfast at 40 due to a stroke and several TIAs, Gabrielle
found solace in the classes offered by Inspire. They helped to keep her mind clear. This new
community created meaningful connections, and she believes that “It helped me to have
something to get up for.”

Gabrielle’s personal story serves as a powerful reminder of the value of community support and
the transformational potential of having someone to lean on in trying times. She might have been
lost and endured greater suffering if it were not for Inspire.

As demonstrated by Hanora’s hard work and Gabrielle’s story, Inspire has been a ray of light for
countless individuals grappling with addiction and mental health concerns in Northern Ireland
and Omagh. As the years go by, they will continue to push for further assistance.