Belfast Healthy Cities Attends WHO Summit of Mayors on Climate and Health in Cork
Belfast Healthy Cities attended the WHO Summit of Mayors on Climate and Health in Cork, bringing Belfast into an international conversation on how climate action can help create healthier, fairer and more resilient communities. The Summit, which took place from 4th to 6th October, brought together political leaders, public health experts, practitioners and community representatives from […]
UKHCTN Job Opportunities (x3)
Belfast Healthy Cities (BHC) represents the city of Belfast, within the World Health Organization (WHO) European Healthy Cities Network.  As secretariat for UK Healthy Cities and Towns Network, BHC will lead PREPARE. A three-year UK-wide programme working with the members, including Glasgow City Council and members of the UK Healthy Cities and Towns Network, alongside […]
Communities leading the way as we PREPARE for a more resilient future
Belfast Healthy Cities is excited to announce the PREPARE project. Prepared & Resilient Communities through Education, Participation, Action, Research and Essential Connections is a community led programme with local authorities and organisations to understand and prepare for the health impacts of changes to our climate. At the heart of PREPARE is a simple idea: people […]
More than 100 city leaders sign Cork Call to Action on Climate and Health
More than 100 mayors, deputy mayors and elected representatives from 60 cities in 22 European countries have signed the Cork Call to Action on Climate and Health. They pledged to take local action on nature, food, active travel, housing and preparedness for extreme weather. Leaders negotiated and agreed the commitments over 2 days during the […]
Belfast designated as a European Healthy City by the World Health Organization for 2026-2030
Belfast has received renewed designation as a World Health Organization European Healthy City for Phase VIII of the WHO Healthy Cities Programme. The renewed designation confirms Belfast’s continued membership of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network and recognises the city’s ongoing commitment to improving health and wellbeing, reducing health inequalities and placing health at the […]
BLOG: Learning from Viana do Castelo and the Healthy Cities European Network
In June 2026 I was fortunate to join the Belfast Healthy Cities delegation in Portugal for the Annual Business Meeting and Technical Conference of the European Healthy Cities Network. This year’s event was especially important, as it launched Phase VIII of the WHO Healthy Cities Programme, while also celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Ottawa […]
Belfast Healthy Cities and QUB Host Green Space Policy Roundtable Event
Local politicians, academics and public health experts recently came together in Belfast for a Green Space Policy Roundtable hosted by Queen’s University Belfast in partnership with Belfast Healthy Cities. The event explored how green space can be recognised and treated as essential health infrastructure, with discussions focused on translating evidence into practical policy action across […]
Local elections in England – A time to place health at the heart of local government
On Thursday 7th May 2026, voters across England will elect over 4,850 councillors. A significant electoral moment for elected members to place health and wellbeing at the heart of local governance. A political briefing document is available here. At a time of significant reform and renewed focus on the impact of place on health of […]
Partners come together in Belfast for workshop to address safety for women and girls in public spaces
Over 60 representatives from across local government, academia, community and voluntary sectors gathered in Belfast for a workshop focused on ending violence against women and girls in open and public spaces. Hosted by Belfast Healthy Cities and supported by Belfast City Council, the event brought together a range of partners, including local and regional government, […]
BLOG: Cities@Heart – Working Together Across Europe to Tackle Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is something most of us have heard about, but many people don’t realise just how significant its impact is, both globally and right here at home. It remains the world’s leading cause of death, claiming more than 20 million lives every year. In Northern Ireland alone, circulatory disease accounted for nearly a quarter […]