Mid Ulster Victims’ Empowerment were set up in 2012. Members include those bereaved, physically and psychologically disabled/affected by the Troubles. They provides services, advice, and support to individuals, families and groups in order to promote well-being.
MUVE’s services include welfare, advocacy, complementary therapies, counselling, recreational activities (art and crafts), excursions, respite breaks, adventure weekends for children and more.
During lockdown 85% of their members were affected with loneliness and some of the younger families have lost employment through the pandemic.
Through lockdown they set up a telephone support service called ‘check in and chat’ where they provided a call and prescription collection service. This service has proved a lifeline for 50-60 of the elderly, vulnerable members. The Telephone Support Coordinator's role is a vital one because they recruit and manage volunteers to run the service, file all the paperwork relating to each call and make note of any special needs of the clients, for example specific prescription needs etc. They hope to expand this service after lockdown, to take members into town for shopping or to hospital appointments, to encourage them into their centre where they can have a coffee and a chat or play chess/take part in craft classes.
In 2021, the group were awarded £5,000 towards the salary of the Telephone Support Coordinator.
