February 2021
Tuesday 8 February 2021
“We are all on a journey of learning from the day we are born, accept this learning and we will develop to be our best.”
Youth Action NI, a leading youth work charity for young people in Northern Ireland, is this week celebrating the contribution made by young people as part of Children's Mental Health Week by releasing advice from one of the young people talking frankly about life whilst living with a debilitating illness. The advice highlights the importance of mental health and wellbeing, all key elements within the ‘Resilience’ programme delivered by the charity.
Established in 1944, and supporting over 8,000 young people annually, Youth Action NI has developed a series of resources to support young people through the new programme, supported by the ‘Ideas Fund’. A central part of the programme is partnering with Queens University Belfast, to support young people as peer researching discovering what works in developing positive mental health and well-being.
One young participant, *Mark, has been so inspirational that the team at Youth Action have used his story of courage, and ambition, and gratitude to reflect how everyday we can nourish and embrace mental health and wellbeing thorough our thoughts and actions. From a simple ‘hello’ to a stranger to checking in on a friend, the programme is there to support young people be the best version of themselves and accomplish the outcomes they want for themselves.
Mark, who is from Limavady, has experience of mental health issues. He also lives with a fear of being diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, a rare inherited disease, which his mother, brother and uncle have been already diagnosed with. Mark has participated in the programme since 2019. Reflecting on his experience, he has the following advice,
“I am living daily with a fear of being diagnosed with this disease that is life limiting, that brings its own challenges, however participating in this programme has really helped my desire to get involved and get stuck in, it is filled to the brim with great advice and support, and I found it really helping my own positivity and outlook, as the resources were easy and really affirmative to be involved in.
We do what our minds tell us. If we think positive, we become positive. If we tell our mind that we cannot do it, well we won’t do it. Young people have passion and skills and at times people put themselves down and these become barriers in their life and therefore don’t focus on their goals.
The food we put into our bodies, feeds our mind. Too many young people eat far too much processed food, junk food and sugary drinks, which all have a negative effect. Second point is music and there is evidence out there that the use of music can calm the mind”, Mark added, as part of his thoughts on how we can get young people from where t and to hey may be stuck to move forward in setting and achieving goals.
Commenting on the programme success and the new resources to support Health and Wellbeing, Dominic Bonner, Youth Worker with Youth Action, said;
“Mark is a young man who I believe can help other young people, as well as spreading positive messages around positive mental health. Mark focuses on the positive tools and encourages him to keep using these tools to promote positive mental health and encouraging his peers.”
“We are delighted to be involved in this programme supported by the British Science Association, Ideas Fund. It is so heartening to see the difference this project is making every single day in the lives of so many young people. People like Mark who are inspiring and empowering for other young people in their approach and attitude to looking after and investing in themselves, and on making their lives count.
We have created a resource pack for young people to use, share their thoughts on and raise awareness of the fact that you can always achieve what you want, and that support and help is always on hand to help young people on their journey.
“We have developed this resource for young people, teachers and youth workers to help support gratitude, altruism, positivity, caring and sharing. We know that volunteering and compassion to help others equates with positive well-being for both parties. This can help to change our perspectives on well-being from a more asset-based approach of what resources exist in our local communities.” Dominic added.
It doesn’t matter how many bumps are on the road, we will work to create the roadmap and agree the delivery plans together. *Mark is not this individuals real name.
February 2022
11 February 2022
Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust seeking new Board members to help deliver its works.
This year Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust is 20 years old. The Armoy based organisation which operates throughout the Causeway Coast and Glens and Mid and East Antrim Council areas, has directly invested £8.5m locally over the past two decades and is looking to develop plans for further investment in the area.
The Trust is currently looking to appoint new Board members to help support its works and is inviting applications from the public who may be interested in joining the organisation to help further its plans. Currently the Trust is engaged in a consultation review looking at its vision, aims and objectives and its future strategic direction, so new Board members will be able to contribute to these development works too.
Commenting on the importance of Board members to the Trust, Graham Thompson, Chief Executive, said:
“Thanks to the support of local councils, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Tourism Northern Ireland and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we have been able to channel millions of pounds of investment into the area. This has allowed us to manage two major Landscape Partnership Schemes at Binevenagh and in the Glens, oversee the protection and promotion of the Giant’s Causeway World Heritage Site and the three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, support sustainable tourism including the development of the Economusée network, provide new access opportunities and boost the biodiversity of the area.”
Graham Seymour, Chair of Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust, added;
“As well as continuing our vital work we have exciting plans for the future. This includes a new UNESCO Global Geopark in County Antrim, a Biosphere Reserve at Binevenagh and a new major project on the Lower Bann. To help us move forward we are looking to inject new experience and expertise into the Board to further supports, our organisation. In particular, we are looking for people with experience in landscape and environmental management or sustainable tourism; but we also need people with experience of managing some of the vital components of our landscape – our farms and forests.”
“In addition to being a conservation charity we are also a company limited by guarantee, so we are underpinned by high professional standards. We would welcome new Board members from a business background with experience in finance, human resources, PR and communications, project management and fundraising. Above all we are looking for people who have a real passion for what is one of the most special places in these islands.”
The Trust is inviting applications for new Board members by Friday 25th February. More details can be found on the Trust’s website: www.ccght.org
February 2022
Wednesday 03 February 2022
Public invited to get involved in Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust consultation
Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust is this week inviting the public to participate in a consultation for the development of the organisations strategy and brand aligned to its 20th anniversary year. The organisation, which was established in May 2002, is inviting the public to contribute their views on its role and purpose as a public, private and voluntary sector partnership body devoted to protecting and enhancing the unique heritage of the Causeway Coast and Glens.
It includes representation from the Causeway Coast & Glens and Mid & East Antrim Borough Councils in partnership with representatives from the environment, the community, the education, the farming and the tourism sectors.
Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, the strategy and brand consultation will be undertaken via an online survey, and a small number of online meetings in the weeks ahead, and further details on how to participate is available on the organisation’s website www.ccght.org
Commenting on the consultation, Graham Thompson, Chief Executive of Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust, said;
“The Trust is keen to engage with as many stakeholders as possible to inform the development of our strategy and a new brand which we are planning to launch later this year as part of our 20th anniversary celebrations, aligned with our strategy development. In the survey we are seeking a wide range of views in relation to the organisation’s purpose; aims and objectives; audiences; communication; brand, and the role and vision of the organisation into the future. We are undertaking an online survey due to Covid restrictions and hope to organise a small number of online events too.”
The survey which can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ccght2022 will take no longer than 10-15 minutes and opens on 03 February it will close on Friday 18 February 2022. The Trust would very much welcome a wide range of input from stakeholders during this time.
“We would very much welcome the input of as many stakeholders, local Council residents and businesses during this time to help us inform the works on the delivery of the strategy and a new 20th anniversary brand developed and owned locally. In addition, I encourage anyone reading this to share the survey link to any of your fellow colleagues or stakeholders whom you believe would be keen to participate, as we want this consultation to be as wide and engaging as possible to get as much benefit for the future delivery as we can,” Graham concluded.