World Breastfeeding Week 1-7 August 2026

Promotional graphic for World Breastfeeding Awareness Week (1–7 August 2026). A person is seated holding and breastfeeding a baby, with a soft pink overlay across the image. Large white text reads: “What to eat and drink when breastfeeding”. Below, text states “Watch now on YouTube”. Logos for World Breastfeeding Awareness Week, the Public Health Dietitians Group Northern Ireland, Eating Well, and the Public Health Agency appear at the bottom of the image.

Promotional graphic for World Breastfeeding Awareness Week (1–7 August 2026). A person is seated holding and breastfeeding a baby, with a soft pink overlay across the image. Large white text reads: “What to eat and drink when breastfeeding”. Below, text states “Watch now on YouTube”. Logos for World Breastfeeding Awareness Week, the Public Health Dietitians Group Northern Ireland, Eating Well, and the Public Health Agency appear at the bottom of the image.

World Breastfeeding Week is a global campaign to raise awareness of the importance of breastfeeding and the role that families, communities, healthcare professionals and workplaces can play in supporting breastfeeding mothers.

Good nutrition plays a vital role during pregnancy and breastfeeding.  Eating a varied, balanced diet can help meet increased nutritional needs, support maternal wellbeing and provide the energy needed to care for a growing baby.

Staying well-hydrated and making healthier food choices can also help support overall health during this important stage of life.

To mark World Breastfeeding Week, we have created a short video sharing simple, practical and trustworthy nutrition advice to support you and your baby on your breastfeeding journey.

🎥 Watch the video on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/664t0wkerhE?si=EEU5HPYUHHp0hSlP

Whether you are preparing for your baby’s arrival, currently breastfeeding, or supporting someone who is, we hope you find these tips helpful.

Southern Area ‘FYI’ Newsletter Feedback Survey 2026

Promotional graphic for the CYPSP (Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership) Newsletter Feedback Survey 2026. The design features a blurred background image of a hand holding a smartphone, with five white star outlines across the top suggesting a feedback or rating theme. The CYPSP logo appears in the top left corner. Large green and purple text reads “Newsletter Feedback Survey 2026.” A dark blue button-shaped graphic displays the text “REPORT CARD 26.5.” In the top right corner, a circular “FYI – For Your Information” logo is framed by a large blue curved border. The colour scheme includes blue, green, purple, and white, with a clean, modern layout focused on gathering feedback about the FYI newsletter

Promotional graphic for the CYPSP (Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership) Newsletter Feedback Survey 2026. The design features a blurred background image of a hand holding a smartphone, with five white star outlines across the top suggesting a feedback or rating theme. The CYPSP logo appears in the top left corner. Large green and purple text reads “Newsletter Feedback Survey 2026.” A dark blue button-shaped graphic displays the text “REPORT CARD 26.5.” In the top right corner, a circular “FYI – For Your Information” logo is framed by a large blue curved border. The colour scheme includes blue, green, purple, and white, with a clean, modern layout focused on gathering feedback about the FYI newsletter

The Southern Area Locality Planning Team is delighted to share the findings from the ‘FYI’ Feedback Survey 2026, showcasing the continued impact of the ‘FYI’ newsletter as a trusted information-sharing, signposting and networking resource for practitioners, organisations and communities across the Southern Area.

Since its launch in 2019, ‘FYI’ has provided a one-stop-shop for promoting services, events, training opportunities, funding, resources and initiatives that support children, young people and families. The latest scorecard, covering the period April 2024 to March 2026, demonstrates that the newsletter continues to play an important role in strengthening partnership working and improving awareness of and access to local opportunities.

The report highlights a number of positive outcomes, including a 100% satisfaction rate, with every survey respondent agreeing that ‘FYI’ is a useful resource and that it has increased their awareness of what is happening across the Southern Area.

Feedback also shows that ‘FYI’ continues to have a tangible impact in practice. Over three-quarters of respondents said they had attended an event, participated in a programme or completed a survey after seeing it promoted through the newsletter, while other organisations reported increased attendance and enquiries after advertising their own activities in ‘FYI’.

Respondents praised the newsletter for its comprehensive signposting, up-to-date information, clear layout and ability to connect organisations with relevant services, training and networking opportunities. Many described it as an “excellent” resource, with comments including, “Look forward to it hitting my inbox” and “I couldn’t imagine my work life without it!”

The Southern Area Locality Planning Team would like to sincerely thank everyone who completed the survey and to all LPG members and organisations that continue to contribute content to ‘FYI’. Your ongoing support helps ensure the newsletter remains a valuable resource for sharing information, strengthening partnerships and improving outcomes for children, young people and families across the Southern Area.

To find out more about the findings, download the ‘FYI’ Feedback Survey 2026 Scorecard HERE.

Ethnic Minorities Mental Health Toolkit – a guide for practitioners

A graphic titled “The Practitioner’s Toolkit: Mental Health and Ethnic Minority Groups.” The left side shows an illustrated person with short white hair, glasses, and a blue shirt holding a clipboard and pen. The top left features the Health and Social Care (HSC) logo. The top right contains the text “Support Resources” with simple line icons of a house, a scribble, and a speech bubble. Along the bottom are four blue buttons labeled: “Introduction,” “Quick Tips,” “Barriers to Accessing Services,” and “Accessing the Appropriate Support – List of Resources.” The background uses shades of blue and green.

A graphic titled “The Practitioner’s Toolkit: Mental Health and Ethnic Minority Groups.” The left side shows an illustrated person with short white hair, glasses, and a blue shirt holding a clipboard and pen. The top left features the Health and Social Care (HSC) logo. The top right contains the text “Support Resources” with simple line icons of a house, a scribble, and a speech bubble. Along the bottom are four blue buttons labeled: “Introduction,” “Quick Tips,” “Barriers to Accessing Services,” and “Accessing the Appropriate Support – List of Resources.” The background uses shades of blue and green.

 

This toolkit considers how mental health is viewed in different cultures, barriers to accessing services, cultural competences in mental health, ‘dos and don’ts’ quick reference guide. There is also information on interpreting and translation services as well as other support organisations that practitioners can refer clients to.

View The Practitioners Toolkit

Southern Area LPG Meetings Year In Review 2025

Logo of CYPSP (Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership) with colorful circular design and text underneath reading ‘Southern Area LPG Meetings Year in Review 2025’ in bold blue and purple font

Logo of CYPSP (Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership) with colorful circular design and text underneath reading ‘Southern Area LPG Meetings Year in Review 2025’ in bold blue and purple font

 

The Southern Area Locality Planning Team has produced a Year in Review with regards to our 6 LPG groups’ attendance and testimonials. In short:

  • In 2025, we increased attendance and participation at our 6 LPG Groups by 85 from the previous year: an increase of 19% participation overall.
  • 63% of participants at our LPG meetings came from the voluntary & community sectors, with 37% representing statutory sectors.
  • Feedback from participants show how much they value Locality Planning Groups in the Southern Area.

Download 2025 Year In Review

 

Locality Planning Groups are open to anyone working with children, young people and parents and if you would like to find out more about these in the Southern Area, please contact us at localityplanning@ci-ni.org.uk

 

Western Area FYI: Issue 26 – January 2026

Your FYI is a monthly round up of all things family support and early intervention / prevention across the Western trust and beyond.

A turquoise background featuring a large speech bubble with the letters “FYI” in bold blue font, each letter decorated with a colored dot (yellow, green, and pink). Below the bubble, white text reads “For Your Information.” On the right side, there are two logos: the first is the HSC logo with the text “Western Health and Social Care Trust,” and the second is the CYPSP logo with the tagline “Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership

Download Issue 26

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

If you would like to contribute upcoming consultations, training, articles, or events that practitioners from the community, voluntary or statutory sectors within the Western Trust will find useful please contact:

Dr Priscilla Magee – Mobile  07880723076     priscilla.magee@westerntrust.hscni.net