Capacity Building Seminar Programmes
Capacity building seminars are key element of the Healthy Urban Environments programme. The focus of programmes is to raise awareness of how health is relevant to spatial planning, to share learning and good practice, and to introduce new concepts and ways of working.
The newest addition to the capacity building programme is lunchtime seminars that provide an introduction to spatial planning and health and offer an opportunity to explore existing local good practice. A programme for health professionals is currently underway, and further programmes open to a number of sectors will be delivered in autumn-winter 2015.
This project aims to build capacity among planning, local government and health professionals on the links between land use planning and health. It is intended to create a starting point for exploring intersectoral collaboration on planning and health.
Planning for Healthy Communities Resource Pack
In autumn 2014, an online resource was produced to initiate this programme. The resource, developed in collaboration with Town and Country Planning Association, introduces the links between planning, the built environment and health; sets out a rationale for collaboration across the health and built environment sectors, and outlines examples of existing collaboration across sectors, from Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the UK. The resource is designed to support and inform the local government and planning reform processes.
Next steps of the programme include capacity building sessions and programmes intended to share learning directly from elsewhere and offer opportunities for building intersectoral relationships.Key target audiences include elected representatives, local government and health professionals, and community level professionals.
Reuniting Planning and Health Conference
In November Reuniting Planning and Health shared experience and expertise from leaders in the field of reuniting planning, place making and health, introducing fresh thinking to inform new ways of working in the context of local government reform. The event was opened by Belfast Lord Mayor, Cllr Nichola Mallon and addressed by Health Minister, Jim Wells, MLA. The keynote speaker was Riccardo Marini of the world renowned Gehl Architects. Other speakers at the conference included Gabriel Scally, World Health Organization, Hugh Ellis, Town and Country Planning Association and Suzanne Wylie, CEO of Belfast City Council.