{jcomments off}NINIS (Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service) provides free access to statistical and locational information relating to small areas across Northern Ireland.  NINIS is pleased to announce the launch of their new website.  This new site offers a wide range of improvements and additional features.  These include: more consistent navigation; ability to access an area profile report by entering a postcode, street or area name; opportunities to create your own charts, maps and interactive maps for exporting; function to view recently added / most viewed datasets and news headlines at a glance.  Visit the website at: www.nisra.gov.uk/ninis

{jcomments off}Thursday 27th September 2012 saw the launch of a new question-and-answer card game.  This resource promotes the benefits of healthy living in a straightforward, interactive and fun way - especially important at a time when two thirds of the Irish population are either overweight or obese!  The game was developed in the Republic of Ireland with the help of health professionals, including obesity expert Dr Donal O’Shea, dietician Cathy Breen, and fitness expert Philip Phelan.  ‘Salubria’ comprises 200 questions covering the topics of nutrition, fitness, healthy living and general knowledge.  It seeks to teach children the importance of healthy living, and to remind adults to build upon good habits and ditch the bad ones.  It is suitable for ages 10 years and upwards.  Visit www.salubriathehealthgame.com for more information.

{jcomments off}It’s time to check your health numbers!  So, why not come along to a session where you can avail of free checks and advice without having to make an appointment?  This will take place on Tuesday 9th October 2012, from 1.00pm to 4.00pm, in the Maureen Sheehan Centre, 106 Albert Street, Belfast BT12 4HL.  Checks and therapies will include: height, weight, BMI, cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, age progression, carbon monoxide, nutrition, skin scanner, heart health, breast / testicular awareness, spine age progression, allergy testing, complementary therapies ...  For more details contact Clan Mor Sure Start on Tel: 02890 327755 or The HEART Project on Tel: 02890 310346.

{jcomments off}September is the Irish Heart Foundation’s 'Heart Month'. This year their campaign will focus upon encouraging the public to ‘know your blood pressure and get it checked’.  This campaign will create awareness of and educate the public about: what high and low blood pressure is; maintaining a healthy blood pressure; managing and controlling high blood pressure through lifestyle changes and medication (if required).  An information booklet and posters are available to support the campaign, and the IHF is also running a national roadshow - with nurses conducting blood pressure checks in locations throughout the country.  To find out more visit: www.irishheart.ie/iopen24/irish-heart-month-2012-t-8_201_1068.html

{jcomments off}Belfast Men’s Health Group would like to invite you to a free men’s health seminar titled: ‘Achieving a Sustainable Men’s Health Clinic’.  This event will be held in NICVA, 61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast, BT15 2GB, on Friday 12th October 2012, from 9.15am - 1.00pm.  A light lunch will be provided.  The seminar will be facilitated by Jim Leishman, who set-up and runs a highly successful Men’s Health Clinic in Scotland.  To reserve a place, please contact Sinead on Tel: 028 9056 4930 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   Please note that places are strictly limited.

{jcomments off}The Public Health Agency (PHA) is targeting £100,000 to support the improvement of mental health and wellbeing across the Northern Health and Social Care Trust area.  Four community networks have received funding which will enable them to award ‘micro grants’ in their respective areas.  These grants are available for approximately eight to ten projects in each council area, and applications will be assessed on their potential to enable communities to improve their health and wellbeing and to complete the work (including an evaluation) by mid-March 2013.  The closing date for applications is Friday 28th September 2012.  For more information contact North Antrim Community Network (Tel: 028 2177 2100), Causeway Rural and Urban Network (Tel: 028 7034 4934), Cookstown and Western Shores Area Network (Tel: 028 8773 8845) or South Antrim Rural Network (Tel: 028 9447 8645).  Any non-statutory organisation within the Northern area can apply for these micro grants of about £500.  Larger grants (£1000 maximum) should, however, target a large number of individuals and/or a large area.

{jcomments off}Staff from Queen’s University Belfast’s School of Nursing and Midwifery are pleased to announce the development of an educational resource about unintended pregnancy aimed at teenage men.  The resource (titled 'If I Were Jack...') is based upon an interactive video drama which tells the story of an unintended teenage pregnancy from the point of view of a young man.  The ‘If I Were Jack’ team, led by Dr Maria Lohan of QUB, is in the process of developing the resource, and it will be available in Summer 2013.  It will be suitable for use within the Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) curricula of post-primary schools in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.  However, it also has potential for use internationally and outside of classroom settings.  This is a theory-based educational resource which draws upon international best practice.  It is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council UK, the HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme (Republic of Ireland) and the Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland).  More information is available on the ‘If I Were Jack’ website at: www.qub.ac.uk/IfIWereJack or by contacting Áine Aventin, Research Fellow, at Tel: 028 9097 2463  / Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{jcomments off}Research shows that young people remain dissatisfied with the sex education they receive.  At the same time, teachers often maintain that they are not equipped to deliver a better standard of sex education due to the lack of information and training.  This workshop addresses these concerns by showcasing latest research and sex education resources, and is specifically designed for sex education providers.  The scene will be set by presenting the latest research findings on young people’s sexual lifestyles in Northern Ireland, and there will be an opportunity for participants to learn more about some of the most innovative sex education resources and providers available - including NCB’s Sex Education Forum, Brook, FPA, GUM clinic nurses, and resources specifically for young men and LGBT people.  The workshop will take place on Tuesday 6th November 2012, from 10.00am - 4.00pm at NCB NI, Albany House, 73-75 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7AF.  The workshop is free, but places must be booked in advance by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   This event is being held as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science.