Community and voluntary groups are being encouraged to apply for small grants which can be used to improve the mental and emotional wellbeing of local communities. Funding is being provided by the Public Health Agency (PHA) for a small grants scheme to address the themes of Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing, Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm. Fiona Teague, Senior Health and Wellbeing Improvement Manager with PHA, said: “This is a great opportunity for the community and voluntary sector to access small, non-recurring grants which can be used to support health improvement at a local level. We

As the National Health Service marks its 70th birthday, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is celebrating the dramatic improvement in the health of our population over the past seven decades, from an era where polio and TB blighted society to one where we enjoy free comprehensive vaccination and screening programmes to help prevent and detect illness. However, the PHA is also highlighting the challenges ahead for our health service given the ageing population here and increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. Dr Adrian Mairs, acting Director of Public Health at the PHA, said: “The 70th

Working closely with local communities to tackle health inequalities and help everyone live healthier lives is the central theme of a report published today as part of the work progressing under the Health and Social Care Transformation Programme. Mary Black, Assistant Director of Public Health at the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Chair of the Community Development Work Stream under the Transformation Programme, said: “Whilst there have been significant improvements in health for the whole population over the decades, these benefits are not evenly distributed. The gap between the most and