b'GREAT BRITAINAROUND THE WORLD TheIrelandFundofGreatBritainProjectProfileIrishCommunityCareMerseyside(ICCM)Avitalsupport-systemtotheIrishinMerseysideDublin-bornJameswas50yearsoldThesadrealityisthatJamesstorywhen he came to Liverpool back in 2008. is a common one and for one reason or Abakerbytrade,Jamesmanageda another many peoples lives have taken a successfulcoffeeshopinAmerica,butturn for the worse or they have not had the when his business caught fire he fell onlife chances that most of us often take for Wearecommittedtoconnectingpeople hardtimes.LosinghislivelihoodJamesgranted. Every day becomes a struggle and struggledfinancially,hisrelationshipsthey need support to get back on their feet.withtheirlocalIrishcommunityorganizations brokedown,hebegandrinkingheavilyThanksinparttothegenerosityofand his health deteriorated rapidly. IrelandFundsupporters,thestaffat andspreadingthewordamongpeersto In desperation he made the tough de- ICCM are there to provide a familiar face, cisiontoleaveAmericaandmovedto an easy ear and a vital link, making sure makeanimportantlife-changingconnection Liverpool, hoping the city where his fa- thatover1,500Irish&Irishtravelers ther was born would be kinder to him. HeacrossMerseysidearesafeandwell.InexplainsBreege,DirectoroftheICCM.We arrived with little more than the clothesJanuary,ICCMwonTheIrelandFund in his suitcase. Struggling to find his feetof Great BritainsAward for their work areverygratefulfortheinvaluablesupportof James turned to ICCM who over the cominghelping hundreds of young Irish who are weeks and months helped him to securestruggling to cope with the pace of modern TheIrelandFunds,whenyouthinkCharitable permanent accommodation, gain access to life, battling daily with drug and alcohol benefitentitlementsandreceivethe abusewhilstlivingwithdepressionand GivingorCorporateSocialResponsibility vital health care he needed. The staff wereanxiety, as well as their work with elderly theretolistenandsupportJames.Theypeople who have fallen on hard times, are thinkIrish! connected him with a detox program andhouse bound, or in many cases are dealing gave him the courage to find work.with bereavement and the early onset ofJames now volunteers regularly within dementia on their own.thecommunity,isbackworkingand has rekindled links with his son and two grandchildren in Ireland.ForJamesandtheICCM,thefuturelookspositive.connect2015 | 109'