“The Men’s Learning and Health Partnership - Unlocking the Potential” [originally referred to as the ‘WEA Consortium’, and was officially launched under the title: “Man Matters”] Funded under the Big Lottery Fund “Live and Learn” programme

Partners … Workers’ Educational Association NI - Diarmuid Moore [Lead Partner] Men’s Health Forum in Ireland - Michael Lynch Home-Start NI - Heather Knox Ballynafeigh Community Development Association - Gerry Tubritt Parents Advice Centre - Pip Jaffa

(Long) Process to Date … Planning Meetings Team-building and modus operandi Agreed key elements Developed a package Stage One application Passed First Round Given a Development Grant Commissioned briefing papers Undertook mixed methods research Changed work plan Wrote Business Plan Stage Two application Presentation to Board Begin 1 st September

Awarded £994,111 over a five year period [ original application was for £999,736] WEA (as lead partner) will look after all the administration, recruitment, recording and evaluation associated with this grant Two Development Officers will do the “leg work”

Vision … The Partnership’s vision is of a cohort of men who have gained the skills and knowledge to be a positive example to their peers and their community. It is also of services and organisations reshaped to take advantage of the positive contribution of men.

Mission … To develop the capacity of 800 individual men to: improve their health; play a positive role in their families; contribute to their communities through volunteering; achieve their full potential through education. To assist 90 service providers to work more effectively with men.

Themes of Work … CORE PACKAGE: induction, individual plan, mentoring, support, signposting … LEARNING: essential skills, personal development, Total Football, tutor training … HEALTH: health champions, courses, MHW events, male-friendly practice … COMMUNITY: committee skills, establishing men’s groups, identifying local needs … PARENTING: Helpline volunteering, Flatpack Guide, Kick Start, home visiting, training to become a Trustee … MISCELLANEOUS: workshops and events

Who will benefit? … Men themselves Families and communities to which these men belong Service providers Policy makers

MHFI Commitment … Representative to attend Steering Group meetings (Michael Lynch) Training for service providers on how to become ‘male-friendly’ Training men, themselves, to become peer mentors / champions / advocates Help to coordinate Men’s Health Week activity in Northern Ireland Run one-off workshops (as appropriate) Recruiting / signposting / support for the entire project

‘Male-Friendly’ Training for Service Providers … Based upon Noel’s model - piloted in RoI Target staff / practitioners Run one course each year for five years 12 participants on each course Total of 30 organisations to finish training over 5 years

Training Peer Mentors … Based upon Finian’s model – piloted in RoI Target ‘experienced’ men who have been through other programmes in this project Run one course each year for five years 10 participants on each course Total of 50 men to finish training over 5 years

Men’s Health Week … Work with WEA to coordinate activity in Northern Ireland each year Activity can be an extension / mirror of RoI work Approximately £900 set aside for this each year Must involve a minimum of 50 men

Funding … Costs based upon WEA tutor rates £21 per hour (delivery time only) Assumption that programme is off-the-shelf Travel = 22p per mile £2,865 available to each partner (Year 1) to cover time related to attending meetings etc. Can claim for venue costs, limited amount of materials and accreditation – not moderation ‘Partner time’ and ‘mentoring and support’ is potential slush fund to top up out-of-pocket costs

Flexibility? … The six key outcomes cannot be changed The programmes offered, ‘milestones’, timescales and budget allocations can be altered with the prior consent of the Big Lottery Fund Andy Hall (Grants Officer) is our Lottery contact All proposed changes must be agreed by the partnership before going to the Lottery

Partnership Agreement … The consortium partners have signed an agreement which outlines the purpose of the project, guiding principles, roles, structures and mechanisms to achieve the aims and objectives