NIHE’s Housing Community Networks from North Down and Lisburn on a joint fact finding visit to four Glasgow Community Health Initiatives, on the 30th and 31st March.
The first stop was the Community Health Shop in Greater Easter House where the project operates a ‘One Stop Shop’ which is community led and community directed providing health orientated services free to those who live or work in the area. The next stop was the Cambuslang and Rutherglen Community Health Initiative in South Lanarkshire, working in partnership with local communities and statutory and voluntary organisations to support health-based activities.
The group also visited the Gorbals Healthy Living Initiative.
Last but not least was the Chinese Healthy Living Centre in Glasgow town centre, the Centre was established due to language and cultural differences which can often make it difficult for Chinese people to find out about and use health services, the organisation encourages the wider community to drop into the Centre to find out more about Chinese culture.
Each individual initiative warmly welcomed the 35 members of both Housing Community Networks, taking the time to explain their projects through a series of presentations and tours. The groups have come away with lots of new ideas and contacts and have invited their newfound Glasgow associates to come over to Lisburn and North Down for a return visit.
This project was organised by Pat Bowen of NITAP and funded through the Down Lisburn Trust, Wellnet, NIHE, Community Foundation for Northern Ireland and Lisburn City Council with assistance from the North Down Community Network.