East Belfast Community Development Agency

The current group of volunteers held their meeting at Peninsula Health Living Centre café on 1^st December before joining a large crowd for their Annual General Meeting.  Thanks to the generous support of Belfast City Council Community Chest who contributed to a Christmas lunch it was a great way to end the year and thank the volunteers.

The agenda for lay workers meetings are always very varied and provide opportunities for volunteers to help out at events where they take on various roles and learn about information they can pass onto individuals and groups in their community.  This meeting was no different and the group discussed Ballybeen Cultural Event sponsored by Lisburn/Castlereagh Councils, the Well Event at Willowfield Parish Church, Touch Lamps provided by Belfast City Council, Wise Men of the East Network networking darts event and winter emergency advice clinics.

A lot of information was shared by Peninsula HLC about their own volunteers and the work of their charitable company and Enterprise Company.  The South Eastern Health Trust Director of Services explained that there was an expected shift in emphasis from expenditure on services into health improvement.  And community health initiatives were ideally placed to take on this role.  He explained that 50% of health funding goes to 5% of the population many of whom suffer smoking related illnesses.  He highlighted a 7 step action plan for the community that included; Energy, Vision, Listen, Partnership, Momentum, Action and Movement which was very enlightening.

The LHIW network is a small but dynamic group, involved with environmental projects such as gardening, physical activity such as fishing and cycling, meeting and greeting at the men's clinics, administrators at health fairs and organisers of health events.  A busy new year ahead will seek to build on the progress made during 2011 particularly around physical activity.  And the group looks forward to sharing information with others around the Theme of Health Improvement, with a monthly schedule of meetings in 2012 already planned.

For more information contact Alan Houston at EBCDA tel. 90451512 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it