Families And Poverty

The Western Health Action Zone continues to support a diversity of projects under the Family and Poverty theme.

Currently, the HAZ Action Plan to 2007 has committed to developing and implementing work to address the following issues:

Debt and Consumerism - based on the recommendations of 'Paying the Price' report, HAZ has undertaken a community project aiming to put debt and consumerism on the agenda of local groups and to relieve financial pressure among families. Working in partnership to deliver a range of programmes and create links to improve individual and community capacity, the project:

• Supports local groups and organisations
• Works in partnership with the Credit Union and local primary schools to set up a pilot savings scheme
• Supports the development of the Community Shop, a social enterprise and recycling scheme
• Has developed a learning and discussion programme around debt and consumerism which is being incorporated into existing education and learning programmes
• Work closely with Citizens Advice Bureau to ensure access to practical help and advice

The WHAZ Co-ordinator for Families and Poverty is based one day per week, through the WASOP programme, in the Ballymagroarty Hazelbank Community Partnership.

Travellers - The WHAZ continues to work in partnership to develop the Omagh Travellers Support Group (OTSG). Work being developed over the next two years will concentrate on:

• The delivery of a range of healthy lifestyle programmes for Traveller families
• Developing of cross-border links and capacity building
• The rolling out of Anti-Discriminatory Training, developed in partnership by Omagh and Craigavon Traveller Support Groups. The training will be piloted in Omagh District Council
• Strengthening and widening links with a range of partners
• Developing eduational support for children and adults

An interim evaluation of the project is available with a full evaluation of the project to be completed by Summer 2006.

Fruit in Schools - WHAZ continues to co-ordinate the management of the scheme in its final year. The evaluation of the scheme will be completed by summer. Schools have been supported to:

• Undertake the Nutritional Guidelines
• Develop part of whole funding strategies to continue to provide fruit for the children
• Encourage parental inclusion and support

In order to share the learning from the pilot, a Toolkit will be developed for distribution to schools. This will provide information and guidance on setting up health schemes within the school setting.

Ethnic Minorities - The WHAZ is currently working in partnership, through a recently established multi-agency group, to develop information regarding access to services from Ethnic Minority groups and to improve and promote Interpreting Services across the WHSSB area. Work will begin with two events aimed at promoting and providing information about the Northern Ireland Interpreting Service. These events will take place in Sperrin Lakeland Trust and Foyle Trust areas and will be targeted at the Ethnic Minority community.

Young Fathers - The WHAZ is currently facilitating and co-ordinating a partnership bid to the Big Lottery. The aim of the project is to support Young Fathers to develop nuturing relationships with their children. The lead partner is First Housing Aid and Support Services and the business plan is due to be submitted by end of March 2006.

Young Men who have been supported by HAZ for the past two years through the Young Fathers Project, sit as full members on the Steering Group.

Supporting Community Groups - WHAZ represented a number of forums and partnerships across the West in relation to this area of work developing capacity through expertise, needs assessment, advice and support in funding applications and project management.

The WHAZ co-ordinator for Families and Poverty also facilitates the IFH Early Years Sub-Group. The theme of the group is Physical Activity and the priorities under this theme are:

• Access to leisure and recreation for vulnerable children
• Family Support

Currently the group are undertaking a Review of Access to Leisure and Recreation, Out of Hours and Diversionary Activities for pre and primary schools age children with particular focus on the barriers across to access for rural and disabled children.