The money will help people deal with the trauma of cancer

The New Opportunities Fund has announced a cash boost for 25 projects across the province which provide vital services for sick adults and children.

They include services which help control pain, give support to patients and families, offer emotional help and give support for practical problems relating to the condition.

Breidge Gadd, a fund board member in Northern Ireland, said the money would ensure help was available at all stages of the illness.

She added: "These projects are about offering dignity as well as understanding and treatment.

"We have worked strategically with voluntary and statutory services to ensure that the money will make a huge difference to palliative care services across Northern Ireland."

Thursday's announcement is part of the fund's new opportunities for health programme which aims to overcome health inequalities in the most disadvantaged communities in Northern Ireland.

It means the fund has committed more than �89m to health, education and environment projects across Northern Ireland.

'Emotional support'

A support service for people with Huntington's Disease is being developed with a grant of �126,236.

Belfast City Hospital's Department of Medical Genetics will use the money to appoint a co-ordinator to work with people affected by the condition.

Professor Patrick Morrison, a consultant in clinical genetics at the hospital, said: "At the moment we can spend some time with people who have the condition and their families but this new post will allow us to do that in an even more co-ordinated way.

"It will allow us to give patients and their families the vital emotional support and advice that they need."

Support services for people living with HIV and Aids will receive a grant of �78,280.

The HIV Support Centre will use the grant to develop networks with other providers of health and social services in the community.

Sam Brush, the centre's acting director said: "Trained therapists will provide complementary therapies and we will be setting up a counselling service for people living with HIV and Aids and their families.

"This grant will also allow us to extend our home support or 'buddying' service which is vitally important and will mean that it will be available for the first time across the province."

Other beneficiaries include Marie Curie Cancer Care which will provide a Therapuetic Day Hospice Service with a grant of �267,169 in the Ards and Bangor area.