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Involving Communities

Involving Communities. Caroline Bloomfield Community Development Worker Belfast Health Action Zone October 2007. What is the Health Action Zone ?. A multi-sectoral partnership which works to reduce inequalities and promote the health, wellbeing and safety of the population of Belfast

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Involving Communities

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  1. Involving Communities Caroline Bloomfield Community Development Worker Belfast Health Action Zone October 2007

  2. WhatistheHealthActionZone? • A multi-sectoral partnership which works to reduce inequalities and promote the health, wellbeing and safety of the population of Belfast • Adopting a broad social model of health

  3. HAZ Council • Belfast City Council • Belfast Education and Library Board • Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (lead) • Belfast Metropolitan College • Belfast Regeneration Office • Business in the Community • Council for Catholic Maintained Schools • Department for Employment and Learning • Department for Social Development • East Belfast Partnership • EHSSB/Health and Social Care Authority • Greater Shankill Partnership • North Belfast Partnership • Northern Ireland Housing Executive • Northern Ireland Probation Board • Queen’s University • Social Security Agency • South Belfast Partnership • University of Ulster • West Belfast Partnership Board

  4. What is the community? • Who/what is your community?

  5. What is the community? • Pupils, parents, extended family • Wider community • Geographic community • Communities of interest • Community and voluntary sector • National level • Regional level • Local level • Independent umbrella organisations

  6. Community Sector • Healthy Living Centres • Smoking cessation, drug & alcohol, physical activity, mental health promotion, healthy eating etc • Adult education programmes, including confidence building /promoting self-esteem • Parenting initiatives • Early years services • After schools clubs • Counselling • Restorative justice programmes • Peer mentoring programmes

  7. Partnership • All HAZ work is premised on partnership working: • Between statutory organisations • Between statutory organisations and community + voluntary organisations • Often performs a brokering role, facilitating dialogue between a range of organisations

  8. Involving the Community – a HAZ perspective • A working partnership • Integrated Services – LIAGs • Suicide and Self-harm Task Group • Greater Shankill 21 • Neighbourhood Renewal • Healthy Living Centres Network • Involvement in other partnerships

  9. Integrated Services for Children and Young People • West Belfast and Greater Shankill • Led by Belfast Trust and BELB • LIAGs being established, bringing together wide range of organisations, including community • LIAG will determine local needs and plan best use of resources • Linking in with Neighbourhood Renewal, Renewing Communities, Extended Schools

  10. Suicide and Self-harm Task Group • High incidence in N+W Belfast • Brought together a wide range of people from statutory, community and voluntary organisations, + bereaved families • Worked together to: • Raise awareness • Lobby for resources • Achieve “joined up thinking” and action • Report produced based on recommendations of subgroups

  11. Importance of effective communication for partnership • Feeling heard and respected • Foundation of trust • Feedback • Jargon • Ownership • Common vision

  12. How do you communicate and involve people? • Examples from your own practice • Barriers – how did you overcome them? • How would you rate your communication skills, on a scale of 1 to 10?

  13. Why do we involve people? • Because we have to? • Or we ought to? • Or because we think it produces better results? • Does it make a difference? • Do you see benefits?

  14. Benefits of Community Involvement • For schools: • Parental involvement • Better information sharing • Breaking down barriers • Community organisations better understand what schools offer • Schools understand what groups offer, and can benefit from it directly in the school or pass the information on to families

  15. Benefits of Community Involvement • For HAZ • Better information sharing • Breaking down barriers • Helps HAZ achieve its goals. Better results eg • Suicide – brought together the expertise of all involved • LIAGs – everyone within locality is aware of all available resources, and can better plan for future • Healthy Living Centres – funding secured

  16. Shankill Early Years Forum • Initiated by nursery principals and Sure Start • Link to Neighbourhood Renewal • Now bringing together nursery schools, Sure Start, childcare providers, playgroups, parent and toddler groups. • Hope to provide a seamless transition for children

  17. Examples of community groups working with schools • HYPE – sexual health • Healthy Living Centres – relaxation massage, + self esteem workshops, men’s health workshop • Greater Shankill Alternatives – anti-social behaviour, culture and conflict, racism • New Life Counselling – group and individual counselling

  18. Sources of Information • Belfast Area Partnership Boards • NICVA • www.communityNI.org • Local Councils • DSD – VCU – www.volcomgrantsni.gov.uk • Health Action Zones • Other local organisations

  19. Contact Details Caroline Bloomfield Community Development Worker Health Action Zone 5th Floor 16 College Street Belfast BT1 6BT Tel: 028 9023 7026 e-mail: caroline.bloomfield@belfasttrust.hscni.net Web address: www.haz-nwbelfast.org.uk

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