European Schools Survey Project on Alcohol and other drugs (ESPAD)

ESPAD is a collaborative effort of independent research teams in about forty European countries and the largest cross-national research project on adolescent substance use in the world. Data are collected every fourth year with 1995 as the starting point. The fourth data collection was carried out in 35 countries during the spring of 2007 and the results were published March 26, 2009 The overall purpose of the ESPAD project is to study adolescent substance use in Europe from a comparative and longitudinal perspective. The basic goal is to collect comparable data on the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs among students throughout European countries. Data should be collected in cooperation between countries using a strictly standardised methodology, in order to offer as comparable results as possible. In the long run the most important aim is to monitor the of trends of the adolescent substance use in European countries and to compare trends between countries. This includes the mapping of differences and the monitoring of trends for policy purposes as well as the scientific study of the context, predictors and consequences of adolescent substance use. In relation to the EU action plan on drugs and the WHO Europe declaration about young people and alcohol, ESPAD-data can provide information for the evaluation of these charters. It is intended to repeat the surveys every fourth year. All European countries are welcome to join the ESPAD study, in the effort of making the coverage across Europe as complete as possible. Click here to download PDF 2.1mb

Larne Community Development Project

This partnership has been funded a couple of times to mainly looking at supporting women to look at health issues in the area. This project has, to date, worked well in making community development and health real. It has helped establish a women's group in the area and has enabled women to bring back relevant information to their families, friends, communities and other local groups they have been involved in. The pharmacy and pharmacist have been a key catalyst for this making use of skills, knowledge, contacts and premises. Some initial work was also carried out with men in the area, encouraging them to consider their health. This Level 3 project now goes a step further; skilling the women, as facilitators, to enable them to role out the information they have gained in a more formal way to the Larne area and its surrounding rural area. It also allows space and time for those women, not at this stage, to gain information, skills and confidence to take back to their families and friends. It also seeks to develop an approach targeting towards encouraging men to think about their health.

Cook it! An evaluation of a community nutrition education programme in Northern Ireland

Cook it! was originally introduced to Northern Ireland in 1995 by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) in a collaborative project with the Eastern Health and Social Services Board, the Northern Health and Social Services Board and the North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust. Having run for five years, this initial phase of the programme was evaluated in 2000. Cook it! was found to be a valuable approach to community based nutrition education. However, a number of recommendations were made as to how it could be improved. In conjunction with a number of community dietitians the HPA therefore revised and updated the programme, which included a redesigned resource manual with improved session outlines and recipe sheets. The Public Health Agency was established in 2009 under a major reform ofhealth structuresin Northern Ireland. The four key functions of the PHA are: health and social wellbeing improvement; health protection; public health support to commissioning and policy development; HSC research and development.

Daisy Roots Garden Project

In the summer of 2009 a local Men’s group that met in St Helena’s thought that it might be a good idea to sow a wild garden on the site.  Then came the raised beds – 2 were placed in the garden area opposite the front door of the house and as it was winter there was not much happening and they were quickly renamed the ‘coffins’.  This was the start of ‘Daisy Roots’. Dublin City Council provided top soil and water butts.  An Taisce funded the start up phase of the project and now continue to provide funds for insurance and some development work.  At the right hand side of St Helena’s there is, what was the old stable yard of the ‘big house’.  This had been used to house a large ‘lock up container and a porta-cabin.  These have been now removed and this is where the main part of the garden is. Following a conference of Business in the Community Ireland, DX Ltd expressed an interest in getting involved in a local project.  Together DX staff and the volunteers reclaimed the old stables and gave them new roofs and new doors.  Paths were put in between the raised vegetable beds and new raised beds were built.  A seating area was developed.  The garden is now wheelchair accessible and there are wheelchair accessible flowerbeds in the garden also.  The newest projects in the garden are a memorial flowerbed and a propagator. Dublin City Council via Cherry Orchard Regeneration Board Initiative Type Community Food Growing Projects Location Dublin 11 Funding Dublin City Council via Cherry Orchard Regeneration Board Partner Agencies An Taisce Dublin City Council HSE Tolka Area Partnership

Ballina Eat Wise Project

The Mayo North East Ballina Eat Wise project will proactively engage with disadvantaged communities, including migrant and Traveller groups, in Ballina to encourage and support people to make informed decisions regarding their diet and that of their families. The project aims to empower people with the resources, skills and knowledge to improve their physical and mental wellbeing through affordable healthy eating. A steering group comprising local stakeholders will be established to co-ordinate and inform the CFI’s work and to ensure it is fully addressing the needs of the target group. The CFI will begin by developing a training module to equip a group of peer researchers to carry out a needs analysis. The information gathered will inform the practical aspects of the project ensuring participation and a sense of ownership from the local community. Young people will be targeted through local schools and youth organisations. Training will be provided for both adults and young people in vegetable/fruit growing, nutrition, cooking, preventing food wastage, smart shopping and budgeting. Practical cookery demonstrations coupled with advice on healthy eating will take place in the target areas. The project will also engage with local supermarkets and takeaways to encourage the provision of healthy affordable options. Other options to increase the availability of healthy food in the target areas will be explored. Part of theCFI Programme 2013-2015 Initiative Type Nutrition Education and Training Programmes Location Mayo Target Groups Children (13-18 years) Families Partner Agencies safefood

Dunmanway Grow it Cook it Eat it - Growing Together

Growing Together will develop a community garden on unused land to help local families and groups to grow, cook and eat fruit and vegetables. The project aims to engage members of Dunmanway community in sharing and learning skills (including intergenerational cooperation) to promote healthy eating and wellbeing and to provide opportunities for growing and using food together in a fun, sustainable and inclusive way. Watch this space! Part of theCFI Programme 2013-2015 Initiative Type Community Food Growing Projects Nutrition Education and Training Programmes Location Cork Partner Agencies safefood Website http://dunmanwayfrc.com/communityandoutreach/881/

The Healthier Communities Shared Priority Project: Learning from the pathfinder authorities

This report presents the findings of an evaluation of how the 12 pathfinder local authorities in the LGA/DH sponsored Shared Priority Project began engaging with new requirements to promote healthier communities and narrow health inequalities. The purpose of the report is to capture the learning from the pathfinder authorities' experience of this initial planning phase and share it more widely now that all local authorities have to focus on the shared priorities.

Report of the Project Maths Implementation Group

Ireland's future economic growth and competitiveness will increasingly depend on the extent to which it can support high value knowledge based industries. Mathematics is essential for disciplines such as science, technology, engineering and finance, but it also promotes the ability to think rationally, analyse and solve problems, and process data clearly and accurately. In a globalised competitive economy it is important that Ireland moves beyond being “average” at mathematics towards the promotion of advanced levels of skills, creativity and innovation. We urgently need to improve attainment levels in mathematics generally and to encourage more students to take Higher Level Mathematics. In addition, mathematics is an essential life skill for citizenship and economic and social participation in an increasingly complex world.

Terms of Reference for Project: Review of AHP Support for Children with Statements of Special Educational Needs in Special Schools and Mainstream Education

This is the Terms of Reference for the review of Allied Health Professional (AHP) support for children/young people with statements of special educational needs.It outlines expectations of the review and should be read in conjunction with the Project Initiation Document (PID) for Phase 1of the review, the Terms of Reference for the Project Board and the Engagement Plan for phase 1.

Terms of reference for Project Board: Review of AHP Support for Children with Statements of Special Educational Needs in Special Schools and Mainstream Education

This is the Terms of Reference for the Project Board of the review of Allied Health Professions (AHP) support for children/young people with statements of special educational needs.It outlines the:Purpose of the Project BoardResponsibilities of the Project BoardMembership of the Project Board