East Belfast Community Development Agency

Representatives of all the local groups of lay health information workers have certainly been busy getting things moving in the past year.  Following on from the successful launch of their three year Strategy Plan earlier in the year they have been meeting monthly to take action. Meeting at their base at Belfast City Council’s Neighbourhood Office they have been supported by EBCDAs Health Development and Connections Team to agree their constitution, elect officers, open a bank account, adopt their volunteer policy, produce information banners for local groups and identify their training needs.   The Network has put this work to good effect and successfully drew down funding from DSD/VSB volunteering expenses fund.  Pretty impressive, but the action doesn’t stop there with volunteer hours being punched in on a regular basis.

To support healthy living in the community the Network has focused on supporting three inquires into ways to support people to stop smoking, promote awareness of why men’s health is important and identify priority concerns for mental health.

As advocates they have pushed for public transport for residents in Cregagh to access the new modern Knockbracken Health Centre after the closure of their local clinic.  Members have been sitting on various committees and are actively participating in helping to make East Belfast Strategy health priorities a reality.  To promote volunteering and recruitment they have facilitated information stands at three health fairs and identified four new volunteers who will soon be inducted into the Network.  A recruitment event is taking place at Connswater Shopping Centre and the practical experience of members will be used to the full to explain to interested people how they can become involved.

To support people in their communities they have been assisted to produce a signposting directory of services to point anyone who needs to access a health service. However, if that doesn’t work the Network is proactive in bringing services like the Big Cancer Bus and Medical Checks out into the community, which were very well used at their most recent events Short Strand and Knocknagoney.

The Network is being helped to plan their final information sharing and celebration event for all volunteers at the end of November.