Health Action Zone North and West Belfast

Mission Statement Working together, we can reduce inequalities to create a healthier, more prosperous and socially inclusive North and West Belfast

HAZ Partners Acute Hospitals (Mater, Royal, City) Belfast City Council Belfast Education and Library Board Belfast Inst of Further & Higher Education Belfast Regeneration Office Business in the Community Council for Catholic Maintained Schools Department for Employment and Learning Eastern Health and Social Services Board Greater Shankill Partnership North & West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust (lead) North Belfast Community Action Unit North Belfast Partnership Northern Ireland Housing Executive Northern Ireland Probation Board Social Security Agency University of Ulster West Belfast Partnership Board

Determinants of Health HAZ works on a broad social model of health, recognising that many issues which affect health lie outside the health sector, eg: –Poor housing –Low educational attainment –Unemployment/dependency on social welfare –Impact of conflict

N & W Belfast – the context 30 years of The Troubles – 40% of all fatalities occurred in North and West Belfast High levels of mental ill-health Very segregated on religious lines Socially disadvantaged compared to South and East Belfast

HAZ is committed to Tackling inequalities in health and social exclusion; Supporting community participation; Developing effective practice; Impacting on mainstream service development and delivery; Ensuring links between practice and policy

Development Pathways A range of organisations working together with communities in an integrated way, ensuring maximum effectiveness and collaboration.

Current Development Pathways Travellers – health and accommodation needs of very marginalised group Communities in Schools – making the school a resource for the community, and the community a resource for the school Neighbourhood – developing a framework for HAZ partners to participate fully in the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy

Development Pathways (cont) Integrated Services for Children and Young People – aims to improve the life chances of children and young people through creating new ways of meeting their needs and delivering services. Mental Health – taskforce on the prevention of suicide and self-harm

Partnership All HAZ work is premised on partnership working: –Between statutory organisations –Between statutory organisations and community + voluntary organisations Often performs a brokering role, facilitating dialogue between a range of organisations

Contact Details Caroline Bloomfield Community Development Worker Health Action Zone 5th Floor 16 College Street Belfast BT1 6BT Tel: address: Web address: