June 2010 Newsletter

Welcome to the new-look quarterly newsletter of Belfast Healthy Cities, June 2010 edition. We are a city wide health partnership working with all sectors locally to achieve the World Health Organization's goal of health and health equity in all policies. We hope you enjoy reading about our recent news and events.

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Active Places: Building Healthy Environments

The major impact which the built environment can have on people's health, and the importance of creating healthy environments, were the headline messages delivered by world leading expert, Professor James Sallis of San Diego State University, at a seminar hosted by Belfast Healthy Cities and Queen's University Belfast (QUB)...Full Article

Pre-election health briefing for all political parties

The run-up to May's European Election saw Belfast Healthy Cities write to each of Northern Ireland's main political parties about the importance of health equity in Belfast and of how vital it is to consider health and inequalities in all public policy developments...Full Article

'Healthy Places: Strong Foundations' – how living conditions can improve health

Belfast Healthy Cities launched a publication entitled 'Healthy Places: Strong Foundations' to mark World Health Day in April. The publication highlights how the built environment shapes people's everyday living conditions and, through it, people's health and wellbeing...Full Article

Belfast chairs global debate on Health Impact Assessment

In April Joan Devlin, Director of Belfast Healthy Cities, was asked by WHO to chair an international round table discussion in Geneva at the WHO global headquarters on how the Health Impact Assessment methodology can be applied to urban development policies and plans.

'Health in All Policies' expert from South Australia comes to Belfast

Danny Broderick from South Australia lead a two-day workshop to kick-start the equity lectures. South Australia has gained worldwide recognition for its work on integrating health into all policies. Danny Broderick, who lead this process, shared his experiences and methods with Belfast and has given commitment to a formal partnership with Belfast in supporting this agenda to be taken forward in Northern Ireland...Full Article

Action to address the health impacts of climate change

The regional Climate Change and Health Group, which was established by Belfast Healthy Cities in partnership with DHSSPS in November 2009, has recently agreed an intersectoral action plan which will focus on addressing the health equity impacts of climate change. A conference is being organized in the autumn to build capacity within sectors to drive forward this agenda within their own organization.

Healthy urban environments and design

The Healthy Urban Environments and Design Group, which has recently been reviewed and expanded, held an action planning workshop on 17 May. An action plan for 2010-2012 is being developed over the summer, building on previous successful actions. Through the early part of Phase V, the group’s work has focused on collating and sharing evidence and building capacity on the links between health, urban planning, transport and the broader physical environment.

New directors on board for partnership

We are delighted to welcome two new directors to the Board of Belfast Healthy Cities - Mr Iain Deboys, Health and Social Care Board's Commissioning Lead for Belfast, and Mr Peter Mullaney, Strategic Planning Manager within DOE Planning. Meanwhile we are sorry to be losing Arlene Spiers, who is retiring. She has been an extremely valuable member of the board over the last 10 years and has contributed hugely to various initiatives