Brendan Griffin
Ceist:340. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide financial assistance to a body (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6656/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 14 February 2017
Ceisteanna (340)
Freagraí scríofa
Information obtained from the HSE indicated that it provided Section 39 (Health Act 2004) funding of €38,000 in 2016 to the Irish Mens Sheds Association for a specific programme of work (Sheds for Life) over a six month period. Full-year costs are being funded in 2017 (€76,000).
In addition to this, €150,000 is being funded in 2017 (€75,000 each from the Health & Wellbeing Division and Mental Health Division) for core funding costs.
The total funding being provided in 2017 is €226,000.
The 2017 work will focus on positive approaches to men’s physical and mental health that celebrates men’s strengths and value in the shed, the community and the family such as:
- To support sheds to build on and sustain the health enhancing environment;
- To engage men’ shed members in process of the evolving the ‘Sheds for Life’ initiative;
- To evaluate the impact of the ‘Sheds for Life’ initiative.
The ‘Sheds for Life’ initiative will work to promote men’s health by working in partnership with statutory, voluntary and community organisations to strengthen men’s health, knowledge, awareness and behaviours towards health. It aims to engage with the sheds in its development process so as to build capacity and to instil ownership of the initiative and to foster sustainability for a health promoting ethos in the shed.
The main areas include:
Focus Area 1:
Fostering a health promoting and supportive environment for ‘Sheds for Life’ by empowering men’s sheds members to take ownership of the initiative to ensure sustainability. This is facilitated by:
- Continual engagement with men’s sheds members in the development of ‘Sheds for Life’ via Cluster Meetings;
- ‘Sheds for Life’ biannual newsletter to be keep members informed and case studies highlighted regarding the roll out of the initiative;
- Capacity building with IMSA Advocates and key players within the sheds via ENGAGE training, peer led training programmes and resources to ensure sustainability of the initiative as per continued support to Action 2.2 of the Healthy Ireland – Men 2017 – 2021 report regarding the Quality Assessment and Outcomes Framework for Men’s Sheds in Ireland.
Focus Area 2:
‘Sheds for Life’ will seek to address positive attitudes and behaviours towards key lifestyle issues for 2017 including:
- physical activity;
- healthy eating;
- alcohol; and
- smoking.
This is facilitated by:
1. Men’s Sheds ‘Spanner in the Works’ dedicated male health website. (Adapted to Irish context from the Australian Men’s Shed Association version which receives on average 50,000 views a month);
2. Dissemination of male tailored health information booklets from partner organisations for health information stand in Men’s Sheds nationwide;
3. Signposting and promotion of existing partner programmes and awareness campaigns and services available to men such as: ‘Quit’ line, Cook It!, Healthy Eating Active Living, Drink Aware, Get Ireland Active;
4. Delivery of partner organisation programmes delivered in Men Shed setting or community, such as Diabetes Ireland, Get Ireland Walking, ‘Go for Life’ Games, Siel Bleu;
5. Delivery of tailored talks via Men’s Shed Cluster Meetings;
6. Promoting positive mental health awareness and workshops via ‘ Mental Health Ireland ’ and ‘Little things’ campaign;
7. Promotion of National Men’s Health Week;
8. Featured articles on the key lifestyle topics effecting men linking with HSE Communication campaigns e.g. Little things, Quit, Dementia Understand Together etc. via the Farmers Journal in the Men’s Shed section throughout 2017.