Developing Healthy Communities

Developing Healthy Communities (previously Derry Healthy Cities) is a charity in Northern Ireland that exists to offer people and communities the opportunity to live healthier and more fulfilling lives. ​ To achieve this we deliver capacity building and training opportunities; we act as a catalyst for the development of evidence-based community led health and wellbeing initiatives and we identify and articulate the health and wellbeing needs of our communities. Developing Healthy Communities, previously, Derry Healthy Cities is a charitable organisation which has been in operation in Northern Ireland since 1992. Since then our work has expanded to include the wider Derry City & Strabane district area, and across Northern Ireland. Vision For people and communities in Northern Ireland to have the resilience and confidence they need to live their best lives, together. Our Purpose We offer people and communities the opportunity to live healthier and more fulfilling lives. How do we hope to achieve this? We hope to achieve this by; Leadership and influence - We are a valued agency that identifies and articulates the health and wellbeing needs of our communities. Capacity Building and Training - We deliver capacity building and training opportunities, empowering people and communities to make positive choices about health and wellbeing. Health Innovation - We are catalyst for the development and delivery of evidence-based community led health and wellbeing initiatives. Projects : CLEAR Project Operational since 2008, CLEAR represents a unique partnership which is part of Developing Healthy Communities. The consortium is made up of a range of community, voluntary and statutory sector representatives from across the Western Trust area, who either have a service delivery role or a strategic role in issues surrounding suicide, self-harm or mental ill-health, or who potentially come into contact with people from these categories. The CLEAR Project offers a range of training and development opportunities for representatives and counsellors from a wide variety of Community and Voluntary sector groups based in the West of the province to address the themes of Suicide Prevention, Self-harm and Drugs and Alcohol Misuse. We administer small grants for community and voluntary sector groups on behalf of the Public Health Agency. Through this, groups have organised a range of activities linked to the 'Take Five Steps to Wellbeing' campaign such as activity programmes, mindfulness and events that promoted and supported them to stay connected. Strengthening Families Programme (SFP) is an inclusive evidence-based parenting programme, designed to promote the protective factors which are associated with good parenting and better outcomes for children. Delivered over 14 sessions Strengthening Families works with the whole family building on protective factors by improving family relationships, parental bonds and parenting skills whilst improving social and life skills for the young people participating. Families meet one evening per week for 14 weeks. Each session begins with a family meal. Following the meal the groups are split into parents, teenagers and children where they learn the group skills. The evening ends with the family coming together for a family skills session and an opportunity to practice the skills learnt on the evening. Childcare and transport are available for those requiring it. We work with the PHA on the development and promotion of quality standards for services promoting mental and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention. These standards apply to all organisations providing mental and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention services which are funded by the PHA. Outcomes for the programme include increased family strengths and resilience, reduced risk factors for problem behaviours in high risk children, including behavioural problems, emotional, academic and social problems. The Strengthening Families Programme also has a number of benefits for the agencies involved with the programme. These include access to an evidence based programme for high stress families locally that will complement and enhance existing work and enhanced working on an interagency basis. ​For further information please contact Leona Scott on 07403 050 507. Help@Work NI The Health@Work Initiative supports employers to develop and implement the health promoting workplace concept thereby improving working conditions and enabling staff to remain in employment longer. We strive to support employers create a culture that supports a healthy working enviroment and in turn a healthier more productive workforce. We will assess and develop structured wellbeing programmes and initiatives for employees using a holistic approach to workplace health. We offer a one stop shop for employers, using only the best service providers in the industry, we can tailor a wellbing plan to suit the specific needs of your organisation Families Voices Forum? A Regional Group led By Families and Friends Bereaved by Suicide A Forum that Aims to Build the Profile of those Bereaved by Suicide Families Voices Forum will Proactively address the issue of Stigma which Surrounds the area of Suicide We will hold Government Departments, Agencies and Organisations to Account Regarding their Responsibilities for the Implementation of Protect Life: the Northern Ireland Suicide Strategy.