Alex Easton MLA has today called on the SE Trust to fund FASA after a meeting with the Health Minister.

Speaking today Alex Easton MLA said:

Having visited FASA recently it was great to see the work they do to help people with so many problems and they provide services for those who are directly or indirectly affected by Substance misuse or Suicide/Self Harm across the community. FASA is a community organization with offices in Belfast, Bangor & Ballywalter. I was surprised to hear that with all the services provided to the community that the SE Trust are both using these fantastic services and referring people to FASA that the SE Trust are not providing any funding to FASA, it was this in mind that I arranged a meeting with the Health Minister and staff from FASA, Karl Williams, Anne Bill and Jill Johnston. I believe that when the SE Trust uses services such as these to complement their own it is only right that the SE Trust have a financial input to help FASA with the work they do but to also help and enhance this vital roll across the community. I will be seeking a meeting with the Chief Executive of the SE Trust and the Health Minister to examine if anything can be done to help FASA do even more excellent work to help people who are affected by substance misuse or Suicide/Self Harm across the community. The Minister has agreed to contact the SE Trust to ask why they treat FASA differently to other health Trust and the Public Health Agency are to look at possible grant applications that Fasa could apply for.”

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