Author Archives: Sharon

New Guide on Setting Up a Peer Support Group

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Following on from Parentline NI’s recent school avoidance event held in Lisburn, it was evident that peer support groups can play an important role in supporting parents and carers.  

The Parent Participation Service at Children in NI have developed a new guide to support parents in setting up peer support groups.

Peer support can play a powerful role in building connection, resilience and shared learning within communities and we hope this guide can be used to help facilitate the development of new peer support groups across Northern Ireland.

Image depicting group of parents sitting around a table chatting, promoting a new guide – Parents Supportiong Parents: A Guide to Starting a Peer Support Group

Download Guide

 

 

Southern HSC Trust Carers Action Plan 2025-2027 Focus Groups

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The Southern Health and Social Care Trust Carers Reference Group are beginning to develop a new Carers Action Plan for 2025 –2027 and want to hear the views of unpaid carers.

A number of Focus Groups will take place in May 2025, at which you will have the opportunity to have your say and identify what is important to you. Your feedback will help inform the Action Plan and future planning of services for Carers.

Focus Group dates:

  • Thursday 1st May 2025 at 11 am, St Luke’s Hospital site, Armagh, The Vaccination Room

 

  • Tuesday 6th May 2025 at 11 am, PIPS Hope and Support Office, Newry, The Wellbeing Cafe

 

  • Thursday 15th May 2025 at 11 am, The Boulavard Retail Park, Banbridge, The Board Room

 

To book a place at any of the Focus Groups, contact the Carers Coordintors Office – 028 3756 6284 / email: carers.coordinators@southerntrust.hscni.net 

 

Download flyer

Image with text inviting unpaid carers to attend upcoming Southern Health and Social Care Trust Focus Groups on 2025-2027 Carers Action Plan. Focsu Groups are taking place in May. Picture shows younger set of hands holding an older set of hands

Image with text inviting unpaid carers to attend upcoming Southern Health and Social Care Trust Focus Groups on 2025-2027 Carers Action Plan. Focus Groups are taking place in May. Picture shows younger set of hands holding an older set of hands

 

Western HSC Trust Autism Support Cafés 2025

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March 2025 saw the end of the Western Health and Social Care Trust (in colloboration with CYPSP) Autism Support Cafés for the financial year. Coordinated by the Health Improvement, Equality and Involvement Department in partnership with local councils and Community organisations, the cafes bring together statutory and community and voluntary sector services. These services offer support to adults, parents, carers and their families who have an Autism diagnosis, are awaiting assessment or are displaying early indicators that they may be Neurodivergent.

Our last café took place in Castlepark Leisure Centre, Lisnaskea to coincide with the beginning of Autism Acceptance week 2025. With over 20 services regularly attending the different cafes over the last year to provide information, support and signposting, the cafes have proven to be popular with some service users commenting;

“Services is great. Loads of information and staff was lovely” and “Great event, lots of variety of support available for families”

We want the cafes to be a place where adults, parents and carers can come and speak with different services which are all in one place in an informal way.

Image with text - picture of 2 people holding cup and saucer and write up about autism cafes which took place in 2024/25.

Image with text – picture of 2 people holding cup and saucer and write up about autism cafes which took place in 2024/25.

Images with text showcasing some highlights of the 2025 Autism Cafes

Images with text showcasing some highlights of the 2025 Autism Cafes

 

 

 

Children & Young People’s Resource Pack – Easter Edition

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The Easter Edition of the Children & Young People’s Resource Pack is OUT Now!

Packed full of activity ideas and recipes to help keep the kids entertained over the half term break, along with resources on disability, mental health, bereavement and more!

Picture with image promoting Resource Pack for Children & Young People Easter 2025 edition. Image includes outline of bunny head and ears along with colourful and patterned eggs

Picture with image promoting Resource Pack for Children & Young People Easter 2025 edition. Image includes outline of bunny head and ears along with colourful and patterned eggs

Download at: https://cypsp.hscni.net/download/426/cyp-resource-pack/45751/cyp-resource-pack-easter-2025.pdf 

(Note: Newsletter will download directly to your device.  Look out for the pop-up box and click on open file when it appears).

Resources and activities are free and in the public domain.

Please share with contacts who you think would find it useful.

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

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Picture with text - promoting April as bowel cancer awareness month. Raising awareness that knowing the symptoms of bowel cancer could save your life. 9 in 10 people survive bowel cancer if diagnosed at the earliest stage

Picture with text – promoting April as bowel cancer awareness month. Raising awareness that knowing the symptoms of bowel cancer could save your life. 9 in 10 people survive bowel cancer if diagnosed at the earliest stage

Picture highlighting bowel cancer symptoms

Picture highlighting bowel cancer symptoms

 

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month | Bowel Cancer UK

 

Did you know?? A high fibre diet can help to reduce the risk of bowel cancer and other chronic diseases like Cardiovascular Disease and Type 2 Diabetes. 

Picture with text - picture shows fibre rich foods including baked beans, brown bread, oats, broccoli and spinach. Text - most if use don't eat enough fibre with quote from registered dietitian

Picture with text – picture shows fibre rich foods including baked beans, brown bread, oats, broccoli and spinach. Text – most if use don’t eat enough fibre with quote from registered dietitian

 

 

 

 

Most of us don’t eat enough fibre. Find out some top tips from our Registered Dietitians on how to increase your intake.  

Watch this short video  https://youtu.be/XuJ2kxdoD-4?si=txeO2COYVwLPfJmY 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eating a lot of red and processed meat also increases your risk of bowel cancer.

Picture with text - pciture of fork sausage, bacon, mince, burger, ham. Text - easting less red meat & processed meat can reduce your risk of bowel cancer

Picture with text – pciture of fork sausage, bacon, mince, burger, ham. Text – easting less red meat & processed meat can reduce your risk of bowel cancer

 

 

If you eat more than 90g of red or processed meat a day, it’s recommended to reduce your intake to 70g or less a day.

You can do this by eating smaller portions of red and processed meat, eating these meats less often or swapping them for alternatives.

 

 

 

 

 

A wide range of free 30 min nutrition webinars for all life stages and healthy recipe videos are available.

Picture with text promoting Public Health Dietitians YouTube channel with healthy recipe videos and free nutrician webinar. Hand holding mobile phone, picture of slow cooker with food in it, bowl of soup , healthy fruit/snack platter, family eating.

Picture with text promoting Public Health Dietitians YouTube channel with healthy recipe videos and free nutrician webinar. Hand holding mobile phone, picture of slow cooker with food in it, bowl of soup , healthy fruit/snack platter, family eating.

 

 

Watch on YouTube at http://pha.site/public-health-dietitians-youtube