Derry MLA urges Health Minister to secure "vital" funding for Northlands’ future

Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin has paid tribute to the Northlands centre as she marked its 50th anniversary in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Speaking following her remarks in the Chamber, the SDLP MLA said Northlands has played an immeasurable role in supporting individuals and families across Derry and the wider North West for half a century.

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Ms McLaughlin said: “Northlands has been a constant source of support, compassion, and hope for people in Derry for fifty years. In a city where so many families have been touched by addiction, its work has changed lives and, in many cases, saved them.

“For generations, dedicated staff and volunteers have walked alongside those facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives. They have helped replace stigma with understanding and have shown that recovery is always possible with the right support.

“Northlands represents the very best of our community. It reflects a quiet but unwavering determination to help others, often without recognition or fanfare, but with an impact that is deeply felt right across our city and region.

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“Services like Northlands are not an optional extra. They are an essential part of our health and community infrastructure. Demand for addiction support has not disappeared, and the pressures on providers remain significant.

“I would urge the Minister of Health to recognise both the value and the vulnerability of these services by ensuring they have secure and stable funding. Long-term certainty is critical if organisations like Northlands are to continue delivering the life-changing support that so many people rely upon.

“Marking fifty years of Northlands is not simply about reflecting on the past. It is about acknowledging the lives already transformed and ensuring this vital work can continue for decades to come.”