Reilly calls for special meeting on future of Foyle Haven

SDLP leader on Derry and Strabane District Council, Martin Reilly has called for a special meeting of councillors and key stakeholders to be convened in order to demonstrate the unanimous support in the city for saving the threatened Foyle Haven day care centre for street drinkers.

Cllr Reilly was speaking after meeting staff at the John Street facility this morning along with SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and fellow Foyle MLAs Mark H Durkan and Gerard Diver to discuss the urgent need to source alternative funding for the threatened charity.

Cllr Reilly said: “Foyle Haven provides invaluable support for vulnerable people in our city.

“Their six years of Big Lottery funding is coming to an end and this organisation and the people who rely on it need this service to continue.

“I am informed that a bid has already been submitted to the NI Housing Executive but other departments such as the Department for Health and Department for Justice should also be stepping up to the plate.

“Given the encompassing nature of the work which Foyle Haven carries out across a number of statutory agencies, I am calling for our local Council to convene a special meeting of councillors and key stakeholders so that we can clearly demonstrate our cross-party support for the sterling work which this excellent charity does.”

Photo shows SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and fellow Foyle meeting staff from Foyle Haven today to support the campaign to save the threatened charity.