Background

Based in Milford, Co. Armagh, Homecare Independent Living (HCIL) provides progressive healthcare services.

HCIL delivers for a wide range of clients include older people, families, patients recovering from surgery, people with addictions, single and young parents, and young people leaving care.

Pioneering in the provision of healthy, independent living for those in later life, HCIL is a champion for people who want to make decisions for themselves and to live a socially-active, healthy life independently.

In 2010, its employees established iCare, an independent registered charity which is at the heart of its CSR commitment.

What Homecare Independent Living did

HCIL established the iCare charity in 2010 to build and empower stronger communities. iCare is supported by a team of HCIL employees that dedicate their spare time to drive local community support, volunteer outreach to help build relationships and fundraising for ongoing projects.

An initiative of the iCare charity is iCare Wishes which recently provided three-year old Cillian Magee, who has cerebal palsy, with a new specialist car seat. Following a three month stay in hospital for chemotherapy, iCare Wishes provided 18-year old Jordan McIlrath with new camping gear so that he can go out camping with his friends.

iCare also officially opened a new state-of-the-art Forest Hideaway at Lisanally Special School for Key Stage 2 pupils. Designed and fabricated entirely by a local Armagh business and donated by iCare to Lisanally, the Forest Hideaway is a bright, vibrant and exciting activity centre that encourages the children to play, have fun and be inspired.

HCIL’s successful Purple Run at Gosford Park is now an annual event to support fundraising activity for iCare.

Since 2015, iCare has been the main sponsor for the Addiction NI 10K Race to Recovery, raising the profile of alcohol and drug misuse at a local and regional level. We are also exploring developing a school’s programme with Addiction NI.

Impacts and Outcomes

• Over 4,000 volunteering hours and more than £300,000 raised through iCare
• Santa’s Gatelodge event raised a record £42,000
• More than 200 individuals, families and organisations directly benefited from acts of kindness and funding through iCare Wishes

For more information, please email: mmackle@hcil.com