Belfast is a member of the Phase VI (2014-2018) World Health Organization (WHO) European Healthy Cities Network. We work with stakeholders in the city to deliver the goals and requirements of being a WHO Healthy City. Read Belfast Healthy Cities' Vision and Mission
Contents
WHO European Healthy Cities Conference - Publication: Health Promotion International: Intersectoral Governance for Health and Equity
- WHO Belfast Secretariat
- Belfast Academics Explore Healthy Ageing in Udine, Italy
- Capacity Building Workshop Series
- Healthy City Explorer Bursary
WHO European Healthy Cities Conference
The first WHO Healthy Cities Annual Business and Technical Conference of Phase VI (2014-2018) took place in Kuopio, Finland 24-26 June. The main theme of the conference was ‘Political choices for healthy cities’. In addition to key note presentations and case studies from cities and networks, the conference provided an opportunity for delegates to attend training sessions to support capacity building for delivery in health in all policies and city health diplomacy. Field trips in the city of Kuopio also demonstrated practical examples of how WHO learning is being applied to improve health and well being in Finland.
The Belfast delegation included Councillor Gerry McCabe; Damian Connolly, Belfast City Council; Dr Karen Casson, Ulster University and Justine Daly, Turley Associates. Belfast presented on topics including health literacy, healthy urban environment and design and political engagement. Abstracts and presentations from the conference will be available on the Belfast Healthy Cities website soon.
Publication: Health Promotion International: Intersectoral Governance for Health and Equity in European Cities
The conference also featured the launch of a new publication detailing the achievements of Healthy Cities in WHO Phase V (2009-2013) Do healthy cities make a difference is the central question addressed in the new Health Promotion International special supplement. Looking at intersectoral governance for health and equity in European cities, the supplement presents a collection of critical peer-reviewed analyses and reflections that build on a five-year evaluation process incorporating data from 99 cities across the WHO European Region.
WHO Belfast Secretariat
It was a busy time for the WHO Belfast Secretariat as it prepared the programme for the conference. The designation process for Phase VI cities also progresses. Cities designated recently include Rijeka, Croatia; Sunderland, United Kingdom: Yalova, Turkey; Chapaevsk, Russian Federation.
KidsSpace
In May, Belfast Healthy Cities' KidsSpace made its first outing of the summer to the Big Lunch at Belfast Castle. The aim of the Big Lunch is to encourage as many people as possible across the whole of the UK to have lunch with their neighbours annually on the first Sunday in June in a simple act of community, friendship and fun.
Earlier this year, Belfast Healthy Cities facilitated five KidsSpace days in CastleCourt and Victoria Square shopping centres as part of Belfast's Family Friendly programme.
KidsSpace demonstrates how public space can be used creatively for children and families. It also provides a platform for gathering views on how family friendly the city is.
‘Open spaces in our city could be used more effectively. It would be good to have things like more seats, mini café areas, small green spaces and playground areas, as well as more toilets. ’
'We would spend more time in the city if there was more to do as a family.’
The next KidsSpace event will be on Friday 24 July in Belfast City Hall Grounds, with further events in the city centre to take place during the summer. Follow @belfasthealthy or join the Belfast Healthy Cities mailing list for for information.
A Call to Action: Shaping Healthier Places for Children in Belfast A Call to Action is seeking to start a conversation with the public sector and those who have a role in creating good quality child friendly places in neighbourhoods across the city.
A consultation period concluded on 26 June, during which extensive work took place to gather stakeholders’ perspectives on child friendly places; respond to the issues raised by children andidentify organisations who can take action to create good quality child friendly places.
Beyond Bricks and Mortar Capacity Building Seminar Series
The first two sessions of Beyond Bricks and Mortar- How Spatial Planning Can Improve Health, a capacity building programme for public health professionals, focusing on the links between planning and health have taken place during June.
The first event, Beyond Buildings:How Spatial Planning Shapes Health featured presentations on the origins of planning and health; how planning shapes health and the new planning system in Belfast. The follow up seminar, Beyond Lifestyle: How Spatial Planning Can Encourage Physical Activity focused on research on planning active spaces; a case study describing experiences in the West Midlands and the contribution Active Belfast has made to increasing levels of physical activity in the city.
A final session, Beyond Evidence: How Health Impact Analysis can inform decision making will take place in September.
Belfast Healthy Cities has developed an online resource, Reuniting Planning and Health, in partnership with Town and Country Planning Association. The resource provides examples of good practice in integrating public health with planning, and has received strong endorsement from planners and health professionals. Read the Reuniting Planning and Health Resource
52nd International Making Cities Liveable Conference (IMCL), Bristol: Achieving Green Healthy Spaces
Belfast Healthy Cities is contributing to the 52nd International Making Cities Liveable Conference. IMCL is a global movement and its conferences bring together 'people of vision' from all disciplines by presenting the best examples of work from Europe and the Americas.
Keynote speakers at the event include renowned architect, Jan Gehl,whom the Belfast Healthy Cities team have had an opportunity to meet. Case studies were presented by Belfast on key programmes including walkability and developing child friendly places within cities. Initial feedback has been extremely positive with particular interest expressed in the application of Belfast Healthy Cities' walkability model.
Health Literacy
2015 Health Promotion Conference: Health Literacy: Research, Policy & Practice
In June, Belfast Healthy Cities was represented at the conference, which was hosted by the National University of Ireland, Galway by Bernadette Cullen, Belfast Healthy Cities Health Literacy Working Group Chair, group member and Belfast Healthy Cities Vice Chair, Karen Casson, Ulster University and Anne McCusker, Belfast Healthy Cities. The Health Promotion Research Centre (HPRC) at NUI Galway is a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Health Promotion Research
International examples of integrating health literacy into policy were highlighted by experts in the field, Dr Rima Rudd, Harvard and Dr Graham Kramer, Scottish Government. Local development and best practice was discussed by Inez Bailey, National Adult Literacy Agency, Ireland. Participants had the opportunity to learn of interventions and research taking place in Ireland and across Europe. Read keynote addresses and workshop presentations
Belfast Academics Explore Healthy Ageing in the WHO Healthy City of Udine, Italy
Learning from the wider WHO European Healthy Cities Network is a key aspect of being a healthy city. Many cities have developed expertise in addressing particular themes that can be used to inform research and practical approaches in Belfast.
In May 2015, Dr. Brendan Murtagh and Dr. Andrew Grounds from Queen’s University Belfast visited the Age Friendly Cities programme in Udine, Italy. Having joined the WHO Healthy Cities Project in 1995 one of the city's core themes has been to promote a ‘Healthy and Active Ageing Model’. Both Furio Honsell (Mayor of Udine) and Stefania Pascut (Programme co-ordinator) demonstrated how this model has underpinned various ‘age friendly’ initiatives across the city.
The information gathered will be used to inform an ongoing research project on Ageing and Place.
Health Literacy in a Healthy City: Making the Case and Taking Action
Health literacy has become an increasingly important concept in public health. Higher levels of health literacy promote access to good health related information, better health choices, less risk taking behaviour, better self-management and less hospitalisation.
An enthusiastic cross sectoral working group have been identifying priorities for this new area of work in Belfast. A background paper outlining the WHO definition of health literacy, evidence and existing tools for measuring health literacy was produced. Following this a workshop was held in December 2014 to explore a common understanding of health literacy in Belfast. The workshop presented local and UK models of practiceEvidence Paper and Presentations
Defining Inequalities and Poverty:
Taking Collective Action
Belfast Healthy Cities and Belfast Strategic Partnership held a joint workshop to initiate the development of a screening tool to support organisations to assess the impact of their policies and practice on inequalities and poverty.
Despite extensive work in the field, the instance of poverty has increased and gap in inequalities has widened. There was enthusiasm from all partners to use a collaborative approach and effectively tackle poverty and inequalities. Background Paper and Presentations
Putting a Value on Health from Cycling and Walking: Using the WHO Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT)
The Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) was presented during training delivered to health professionals in Belfast and Antrim by WHO Expert trainer, Dr Nick Cavill.
The HEAT tool quantifies the impact of increased cycling and walking by estimating the monetary value of improved health for those who increase regular physical activity. The information gathered can then be used to inform planning and financial allocations by Governments. HEAT has many practical applications. For example, it can be used to estimate the economic value of a new project such as a bridge or walkway Presentation HEAT Website www.heatwalkingcycling.org
Healthy City Explorer Bursary 2015
The Healthy City Bursary was launched in 2014 with the intention of supporting a professional working to improve Health and Well being or Healthy Urban Planning in Belfast to visit another Healthy City to study their approach to a priority issue. The inaugural award was made to Anne McNally, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety who studied the implementation of new public health legislation in Norway.
This year, reflecting the quality of proposals, two awards have been made. Stephanie Thompson, South Belfast Partnership Board, will travel to Glasgow to examine the application of the city's drug and alcohol policy in green spaces. The second bursary was awarded to Jelena Buick, Belfast City Council, who will travel to Barcelona to learn about their innovative practice in addressing fuel and food poverty. Both bursary holders will present their findings at the Belfast Healthy Cities Annual General Meeting later in the year.
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Equity in European Cities
A Call to Action: Shaping Healthier Places for Children in Belfast
Belfast Academics Explore Healthy Ageing in the WHO Healthy City of Udine, Italy
Diary Dates