{jcomments off}The Department of Finance and Personnel has commenced a public consultation on the law relating to parental responsibility for unmarried fathers and contact with their children post-separation.  To access the consultation paper, please download the Portable Document Format (PDF) file at: www.dfpni.gov.uk/consultation-paper-parental-responsibility-and-contact-with-children-post-separation.pdf  The consultation will end on Monday 19th January 2015.

{jcomments off}Improving Children’s Lives, in association with Parenting NI, Family Mediation NI and the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland, is hosting a seminar on 'The Importance of Fathers in Children's Lives: Outcomes, Evidence and Rights into Practice'.  This will take place on Thursday 12th February 2015, from 9.00am - 2.00pm, in the Canada Room, Queen's University Belfast.  Visit www.mhfi.org/QUB2015.pdf for more details.  This is a free, open event, but registration is essential - as places are limited.  To register for a place, please contact David Piekaar, Improving Children’s Lives Administrator, at Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{jcomments off}Did you know that it will be International Men’s Day on Wednesday 19th November 2014?...  The theme for 2014 is ‘Working Together for Men and Boys’.  There are six aims for this day: promote positive male role models; celebrate men’s contributions; focus on men’s health and well-being; highlight discrimination against males; improve gender relations and gender equality; create a safer, better world.  To find out more, visit: www.internationalmensday.com

{jcomments off}During the month of November each year, 'Movember' is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on men’s faces in Ireland and around the world.  The aim of this month is to raise funds for, and awareness of, men’s health.  Visit http://ie.movember.com or http://uk.movember.com for more information on Movember on the island of Ireland.

{jcomments off}The ARK Ageing Programme invites you to the next meeting of 'Age Encounters'.  This is a network of researchers, academics and practitioners with an interest in age.  Each 'Age Encounter' has presentations from speakers and time to chat over coffee.  The next event will take place on Tuesday 25th November 2014, in the Old Staff Common Room, Lanyon Building, Queen's University Belfast.  Tea / coffee / registration begins at 2.30pm, and presentations will start at 3.00pm.  The speakers will be Lorna Montgomery and Janet Carter Anand (School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, Queen's University Belfast) who will discuss their recent research on services for socially isolated older men in Belfast.  The Rejuvenate Project from North Belfast will also highlight their services for men aged 55+ living across North Belfast.  This event is free, but places must be booked in advance.  Book your place by Friday 21st November 2014, by contacting Caroline on Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Tel: 02890 973222.

{jcomments off}The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) recently announced the launch of a new statistical information section on their website.  Based around health and social care themes, the new site includes information on hospitals, community and primary care, inequalities, public health, and performance measures at various geographic levels.  It encourages users to explore the information using a range of infographics and interactive visual tools, and to download data for further analysis.  A search function has been developed for both statistical reports and downloadable data tables.  End users can search the document of interest by theme, topic, year of publication and / or keyword search.  This enhanced search facility will enable users to quickly find the information that they require.  The site can be accessed at: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/statistics.htm

{jcomments off}More than four in ten (42%) of the UK’s unpaid carers are male.  The report ‘Husband, Partner, Dad, Son, Carer?’ looks into the experiences and needs of male carers, in order to raise awareness of the fact that they may not be getting the support that they need.  The Carers Trust and the Men’s Health Forum in England and Wales carried out a survey of male carers at the start of 2014.  609 male carers from across the UK took part.  The report found that: more than one in four male carers in employment would not describe or acknowledge themselves as a carer to others - meaning they may not get the support they need at work; over half of the male carers surveyed felt that the needs of male carers were different to those of female carers - many citing that men find it harder to ask for help and support, and that balancing work and caring is challenging, particularly if they are the main earner; one quarter of men surveyed cared for more than 60 hours per week and worked; four in ten male carers said that they never had a break from their caring role; 56% of male carers aged 18-64 said being a carer had a negative impact on their mental health, and 55% said that their health was ‘fair or poor’.  For a copy of the report, visit: www.menshealthforum.org.uk/male-carers-husband-partner-dad-son-carer

{jcomments off}The Community Development and Health Network (CDHN) is delivering Level 2 and Level 3 training in ‘Pathways to Health’.  Level 2 training is designed for people who are engaging with local communities to address a range of social and inequality issues.  Level 3 is delivered as a series of master classes (one per fortnight, for 14 weeks) and has been developed for individuals who have a strategic and policy development role within their organisation.   Booking and further information is available at: www.cdhn.org/pages/index.asp?title=Pathways_to_Health_Training_Dates_2014_2015