{jcomments off}This September, Ireland’s Heart Month will focus on alcohol and the link to heart disease and stroke.  The aim is to encourage people to ‘say when’ sooner.  There are many messages about whether alcohol is good or bad for the heart.  There are also many unanswered questions such as: ‘How much is too much?’  ‘What is the recommended maximum weekly level that should be consumed?’  ‘What is a standard drink?’ ...  Materials, including posters and a free colour magazine exploring issues related to alcohol and heart health, are available to order from the Irish Heart Foundation.  For more details, visit: www.irishheart.ie/iopen24/irish-heart-month-september-2014-t-8_201_1422.html

{jcomments off}‘Danderball’ (walking football) is one of the new sporting crazes to hit Ireland.  It is a social / fitness / sporting initiative for men aged 50 years and over.  The programme is designed to complement other physical activities for people aged 50 years plus, and is particularly attractive to men who can no longer play regular football.  Danderball is a 5-a-side non-contact version of football.  Anyone who sprints, runs or jogs while the ball is in play will be penalised - with a free kick awarded to the other team.  To find out more about it and how it’s played, have a look at: www.mhfi.org/danderball.pdf

{jcomments off}Turn2Me is an online mental health organisation providing a range of services to adults affected by mental health / well-being difficulties of various sorts.  These services include support forums, support groups, information, a mood-tracking tool called ‘Thought Catcher’, and counselling (provided by fully qualified staff).  Turn2Me delivers the free online counselling through an eight week ‘Engage Programme’.  This uses online chat software.  To participate, visit www.turn2me.org/engage and apply.  Whilst ‘Engage’ is open to any adult in Ireland, there is a particular focus upon providing this service to men.  Some men may be less inclined to access emotional support.  Doing so online may feel more comfortable, and is also easier to access from home.  Turn2Me is supported by the National Office for Suicide Prevention.

{jcomments off}Jog Belfast is a free, fun, 10 week training programme for beginners.  The course is aimed at people who have not run before, and will help them to complete a 5km run in 10 weeks.  The next 10 week programme starts in September 2014, and training will be held at a range of locations across Belfast.  Each session lasts for an hour.  For more information, or to register, visit www.activeni.org or phone Matt Shields on 07595 269308.  Jog Belfast is open to people of all ages and abilities.

{jcomments off}‘Let's Talk About ... Safer Sex’ is a four day Training for Trainers Programme.  The primary aim is to train youth and community workers to deliver HIV, hepatitis, and sexual health education programmes to the groups in their care.  The next programme will take place on Thursday 25th September, Thursday 2nd October, Thursday 9th October and Thursday 16th October 2014.  Sessions will last from 10.00am to 4.30pm each day, and will take place in Dublin AIDS Alliance, 53 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1.  On completion of the training, each participant will receive a copy of the 'Let's Talk About ... Safer Sex' training resource.  Further information is available at: www.dublinaidsalliance.ie/index.php?page=training or by emailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{jcomments off}Age NI and ARK invite you to a conference titled: ‘At the Crossroads: Preparing for an Ageing Population’.  This conference will bring together leading experts on ageing, and will explore how policy makers and service providers in Northern Ireland can best prepare for demographic change.  Academics and practitioners will present their analyses and recommendations on key issues including dementia, housing, employment, building an age-friendly Northern Ireland, effective consultation processes, and engaging with ‘hard to reach’ groups.  This conference will take place on Wednesday 27th August 2014, from 9.30am - 4.00pm, in Riddel Hall, Queen’s University Belfast.  Places are free of charge and lunch will be provided.  To register your interest, contact Michele by Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Tel: 02890 892606.

{jcomments off}Cancer Focus NI launched a three month campaign in June 2014 in partnership with the Daily Mirror and with the support of 14 local charities.  The campaign calls for equality of access to 38 cancer drugs that are available to patients in England, Scotland and, shortly, Wales, but not readily available to patients in Northern Ireland.  The campaign initially aimed to secure 10,000 pledges of support - to be presented to Health Minister, Edwin Poots, this autumn.  However, after reaching that number in only 11 days, they have doubled the number of pledges, and are aiming for a massive 20,000.  Anyone who would like to pledge their support should visit: www.equalaccessni.org

{jcomments off}The Western Health and Social Care Trust Health Improvement Department has just released their training brochure for the period September 2014 - March 2015.  To see what’s being offered, visit: www.mhfi.org/WHSCTtraining14-15.pdf