Welcome to this Vaccination edition of the PHA health messaging mailout.
COVID-19 vaccination is so important. Can you help us to get the word out to local communities? Below are resources for you to do this.
Our key messages are:
Book your vaccine as soon as you are eligible – don’t wait to be called; and
Keep to the public health advice even when you have been vaccinated.
YWA (Youth Work Alliance) is working with YGAM (Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust) and GamCare to bring an education and support programme to Northern Ireland, with the mission of safeguarding future generations from gambling and gaming related harms.
Gambling-related harms have been presented as a hidden issue in Northern Ireland for many years, which makes it even more vital for us to ensure children and vulnerable people are informed, educated and safeguarded against the potential harms associated with gambling and increasingly, gaming too.
YWA has 2 Education Officers Helen McVitty-O’Hara and Kevin McGuckin who facilitate the evidence-led, evaluated, and accredited education programmes that extend beyond the individuals that we reach directly by equipping people with the skills and confidence to talk to others about gambling harms and identify harmful behaviour in those close to them.
Feedback from Youth Workers who have completed the training and how it will impact on their practice:
“it’s really helped not only our young people but also helps us to help each other, it will help us be more conscious while organising activities and behaviours to be aware of”
“have better information to talk to young people about the dangers of gaming and gambling, will help with the delivery of workshops to young people to help raise awareness”
“more aware of signs and confident to deliver interventions and awareness around these topics”
The training is delivered free and currently online, offered in 2 options:
1 Full session taking up to 3 hours
2 Delivered in 2 parts – Introduction taking 2 hours and Follow-up taking 1 hour
Upon completion of the training, you will be given log in details to YGAMS resource section.
For further information see attached flyer HERE.
To express interest in receiving training please complete the form link
https://forms.office.com/r/qpKSH5cZqS
Email: helen@youthworkalliance.com Mobile: 079 504 715 53
Email: kevin.mcg@youthworkalliance.com Mobile: 074 989 283 57
Parent Action NI are holding the first Online Conference for Parents of Children with (Special) Additional Needs.
Date: 6th May 2021
Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm
The Expert Panel on Educational Underachievement published their interim report. You can read it here: https://bit.ly/3fRj5CX
The full report & recommendations are due within 2 months. Peter Weir personally thanks the panel for their work thus far.
#EveryChildDeservesAChance
In March 2021 the Western Area Outcomes Group ran a very timely training session to assist practitioners when supporting families return to education. The WAOG recognised that the COVID 19 pandemic has been a unique situation experienced by both the family and practitioner.
Nearly seventy practitioners from a range of disciplines, including the Community and Voluntary Sector; EANI and WHSCT listened to Christine Davies, Trauma Informed Schools UK. Christine explained to the audience that lockdown and school closures must be considered as a traumatic experience. Christine eloquently described this as “The Same Storm……Different Boats” – everyone has experienced this, but maybe in different ways in relation to their situation, in different measures and at different times. These experiences may have included;
Christine offered participants both the underpinning theory and practical application to enable them to better understand the impact of the crisis and move forward to find a new normal. This included;
Priscilla Magee Fermanagh and Omagh Locality Planning Officer
