The Housing Executive has invested over £25,000 as part of its homeless prevention network.

The organisation has also partnered with SPRING Social Prescribing to support vulnerable tenants with their health and wellbeing.

The Social Prescribing project is being piloted in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.

Already, over 50 local tenants have been helped via the programme, made all the more important as vital assistance was provided during the COVID-19 lockdown.

SPRING Social Prescribing is a community-led health initiative helping people improve their health and well-being by connecting them to sources of support within the community.

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Oonagh Quigg is a Social Prescriber at the Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum. She said: "I work with the Housing Executive to connect tenants to services in the community. I help people suffering from depression, anxiety, loneliness, chronic pain and other health and social issues to access the help and services they need to improve their health and wellbeing.

"I help people overcome feelings of loneliness and isolation, helping them with gardening projects, isolations packs, support calls, deliveries, counselling referrals and enabling them to access to online classes. SPRING Social Prescribing has also provided tenants with tablets and Wi-Fi to ensure they stay connected to services and supports."

Mary Nortonen, a Housing Executive tenant in the Brookdale area of the City, said the support she has received throughout lockdown has been invaluable:

"The Social Prescribing Project has been more than helpful. Support was there for me when I got out of hospital.

"During lockdown there was weekly telephone support, isolation packs, help with meals and assistance with food parcels through the local community response team.

"Oonagh encouraged me to go out when restrictions lifted and has helped me with a device to help me access courses online."