{jcomments off}Is your organisation interested in developing work with fathers?  If so, then the Parenting Forum NI (within Parents Advice Centre) would like to invite you to a Presentation Morning which will showcase some of the learning arising from the "Kick Start 2011" project - a seven month package of training, support, networking, reflection and practical action for groups that are trying to, or wishing to, engage with fathers.  The Kick Start 2011 trainees are now coming to the end of their time on the programme, and have organised an event to help others to: understand why we need increased engagement with fathers; get a sense of what Kick Start offers; hear about the practical experience of a number of trainees; meet Kick Start participants, and find out about the hands-on things involved in running an activity for fathers.  This free event will take place on Thursday 15th September 2011 in Grosvenor House Conference Centre, Belfast.  To download a booking form, please visit: www.parentsadvicecentre.org/projects/parentingforum/events.asp  or contact Pauline on Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / Tel: 028 9031 0891.

{jcomments off}Autism Spectrum Disorders are a range of very complex, unique, and hidden disabilities that impact on both the individual with a diagnosis and the whole family.  In particular, fathers often struggle to come to terms with their child’s diagnosis and try to be strong for their family - ignoring their own need for information and support.  Autism NI has produced a new factsheet for fathers, written by parents for parents.  It explores the impact of diagnosis and the range of typical feelings fathers may have.  It deals with how to feel involved in your child’s life and identifies what fathers can do to help.  It also looks at the stress of living with ASD on relationships and highlights concerns fathers may have about having ASD themselves.  It includes tips and hints, and signposts readers to further resources specifically for fathers.  This factsheet is downloadable from the Autism NI website for free.  Hard copies can be accessed by contacting the Autism NI Central Office at Tel: 02890 401729.  Further resources and information are also available from Autism NI.

{jcomments off}This September, the Irish Heart Foundation’s Heart Month Campaign will focus on men.  More men die from heart attacks and stroke than any other cause of death.  As part of Heart Month, the Irish Heart Foundation will run a nationwide TV campaign which encourages men to know about the signs of a heart attack and to call 999 before it’s too late.  A resource for men - informing them of how they can make positive lifestyle changes and limit their risk of heart attack - will be widely available.  The Irish Heart Foundation is asking you to support and promote this campaign by: ordering and displaying Heart Month materials (booklets, posters and leaflets); distributing Heart Month materials to men; including a piece on Heart Month on your organisation’s website or newsletter; hosting an event for men (and friends and family).  If you would like to order free promotional materials / find out more, contact Mairéad O’Callaghan at Tel: 01 668 5001 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{jcomments off}The Irish Cancer Society is, currently, recruiting both men and women who have had a bowel cancer diagnosis, are post treatment, and 12 months post surgery, to take part in a physical activity programme which will start in the Autumn.  The programme will be based in Dublin, and will last for 15 weeks.  There is compelling evidence to suggest that physical activity (of a minimum of 2-3 hours per week) after diagnosis and treatment can help to reduce the risk of bowel cancer recurrence and can help to improve quality of life.  To register your interest and get further information, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or call Eimear on Tel: 01 231 6624.

{jcomments off}At the end of June 2011, the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister’s Research Branch published an update of the Gender Equality Strategy Statistical Indicators.  This document provides a range of gender statistics relating to areas such as education, employment, income, poverty, caring, health, transport, violence, crime, and decision-making roles in Northern Ireland.  The purpose of the indicators is to provide an overview of changes to the relative position of men and women across a range of policy areas, and to facilitate an interim review of the Gender Equality Strategy by providing a broad contextual picture charting trends over time.  This document is available online at: www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/index/equality/equalityresearch/research-publications/esn-pubs/publications_2011.htm

{jcomments off}During Men’s Health Week 2011, the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI), supported by the Irish Cancer Society (ICS), ran an island-wide poster competition.  The poster featured the two main characters with ‘thought bubbles’ coming out of their heads.  Entrants were invited to submit suggestions as to what the men in the poster might be thinking about during these ‘challenging times’ - especially in relation to their own health and well-being.  There were a large amount of entries submitted from all across Ireland, and the judges have now picked the three which appealed to them most.  The winners will each receive a pair of tickets for the launch of the ‘Movember’ celebrations in the Autumn.  This includes travel to / overnight accommodation in Dublin, courtesy of the Irish Cancer Society.  All of the entries can be viewed as a Portable Document Format (PDF) file by clicking here [PLEASE NOTE: This is a very large file - 3.77MB - and will take quite a while to load].
 

{jcomments off}Olawunmi Onafuwa, who is completing a Masters in Criminology in Dublin Institute of Technology, invites you to participate in an online research project which will look at the barriers to recognising and responding to male victims of domestic violence in Ireland - both North and South.  This research is being supervised by Dr Kevin Lalor (Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  / Tel: 00353 1 4024163).  Even though domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence have recently emerged as highly important topics both here in Ireland and in the international community, most often it has been framed, primarily, in relation to violence against women.  There is still a paucity of research on male victims of domestic violence.   The researcher will take all reasonable steps to protect each participant’s privacy at all times, and all the information gathered will be used exclusively for the sole purpose of the research.  The survey is available online at: http://survey4men.com   For further information, contact Olawunmi on Tel: 00353 87 7852636 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{jcomments off}Made publicly available during Men’s Health Week 2011, this resource booklet summarises the key findings from an MA thesis conducted at the Centre for Men’s Health in the Institute of Technology Carlow.  The study sought to establish best practice guidelines in tailoring lifestyle interventions for obese men in the Primary Care setting.  The thesis was conducted between October 2008 and September 2010, and was carried out in partnership with the Community Nutrition and Dietitian Service (CNDS), Health Service Executive South, and a number of General Practices in the south-east area of Ireland.  The booklet was produced by Majella McCarthy and Noel Richardson, and is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) at: www.mhfi.org/tacklingmaleobesity.pdf