Hundreds avail of free health and well-being programmes in Inishowen 

A pilot programme, introduced by the Government and the HSE to improve people’s health and well-being, is having a positive impact in Inishowen, new figures have revealed. 

The Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme (SHC) was introduced by the Department of Health and the HSE in 2021 to address health inequalities throughout the country, particularly in areas of social and economic deprivation. 

New figures released by Inishowen Development Partnership (IDP), who manage these programmes in Inishowen, have revealed that more than 550 people in the peninsula took part in programmes and courses last year. 

In Inishowen, IDP is responsible for rolling out the pilot initiative’s four core programmes namely Social Prescribing, Healthy Food Made Easy, We Can Quit and some of the Parents Plus Parenting Programmes. 

Of the programmes, the Parent support courses and workshops proved very popular with 155 taking part in parent support workshops on topics such as self-care, managing challenging behaviour, importance of gentle movement and family nutrition. We also saw a further 40 people engaging in parent support programmes and covering parenting children with special needs, healthy families, parenting when separated, to name a few.

The Healthy Food Made Easy programme also proved extremely popular in 2023 with 146 individuals taking part in 14 different healthy cooking on a budget course, with a further 70 taking part in add-on courses such as waste prevention, preserving food, cooking with an air-fryer course and a dedicated air-fryer course for our local farmers. 

Patricia Lee, team Lead for this strand of work added: “We are also proud to say that 20 people have quit smoking having successfully completed the We Can Quit smoking cessation programme last year. Furthermore, our Social Prescribing has supported 120 participants across Inishowen tackling isolation and disconnection throughout 2023. 

“At the end of 2023 IDP invited over 200 participants to our two Self-Care and Wellness Saturdays where everyone benefited from taking the time to pause and focus in on their self-care, health, and well-being.”

More than 300 children expected at Spraoi agus Spórt summer camps

Highlights include outdoor games and activities, arts and crafts, a film school, teens adventure summer camp and a textile upcycling camp

Shauna McClenaghan, joint CEO of Inishowen Development Partnership said she is delighted that the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programmes are available to the people of Inishowen. 

“The popularity of the SHC programmes has been growing in Inishowen year after year and we are delighted to see the numbers accessing the programmes and promoting healthier lifestyle choices and overall wellness. Promoting health and wellbeing has been a feature in the work of IDP for many years and experience shows that good physical and mental health are key to an individual’s ability to achieve, succeed and have a good quality of life,” said Shauna. 

“The Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programmes is managed by IDP and is offered locally across Inishowen in collaboration with our community partners in local community groups and social enterprises. We are delighted to have been selected as one of the pilot areas. It is the people of Inishowen who are engaging and benefitting from this investment and collaboration,” added Shauna. 

To find out more about the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programmes being delivered here in Inishowen see here for more information.