Launch of 2017 World Health Organization Belfast Healthy City Awards
Belfast Healthy Cities, the World Health Organization initiative in Northern Ireland has today launched the ‘Healthy City’ 2017 awards. The awards, which are now in their fifth year, will recognise projects undertaken to improve the health and wellbeing of people across Belfast.
Previous winners have included Cancer Focus NI, Street Soccer, Wildflower Alley and the Council for the Homeless. The awards are open to all sectors, including statutory, voluntary, academic, community and private sector organisations.
The 2017 Belfast Healthy Cities Awards will be made in four categories: Promoting Health Equity; Healthy Places; Healthy Living and Engaging for Change, and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in December.
Belfast Healthy Cities are encouraging organisations who have been working to promote health across the city and address health inequality to apply for the awards. Applications are now open and will close on the 27th October.
Speaking at the launch of the awards, Dr David Stewart, Chair, Belfast Healthy Cities, said: “We are delighted to once again be holding the World Health Organization Belfast Healthy Cities Awards in 2017. Now in their fifth year, we have seen a huge increase in both the number and quality of applications each year, which is indicative of the wonderful work being undertaken to improve the health of the citizens of Belfast. We are looking forward to seeing the innovations and ideas local groups have been working on in 2017.”
2016 winner Gerry McElwee, Head of Cancer Prevention at Cancer Focus, added: “Winning the Belfast Healthy Cities Award was a real acknowledgement of the continuing effort we put in to supporting and empowering local people to take control of their health. There is some incredible work going on across Belfast to improve the health and wellbeing in the community and it was an honour to be recognised as a leader by Belfast Healthy Cities.”
The call for entry is open until 27th October. The awards will be presented at high profile ceremony in Belfast in December.