Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and National Drugs Strategy, Frank Feighan TD, today launched the first Sláintecare Healthy Community in Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Launched nationally in October 2021, Sláintecare Healthy Communities is a cross-Government initiative to deliver increased health and wellbeing services to 19 community areas across Ireland. This programme will be delivered locally in partnership with the HSE, Wicklow County Council, statutory, voluntary and community groups as well as the local community. The programme will also fund new posts including staff working at community level within Wicklow County Council and the HSE to engage, support and coordinate support and services to the community in an effective manner.
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD said: “I am delighted that Bray is the first of the Sláintecare Health Communities local launches to take place.
“The Healthy Communities programme will support not only the physical and mental health of the people of Bray; but will also support improvement in the wider determinants of health such as in education, social support and the built environment.”
Speaking at today’s launch, Minister Feighan said: “These locally commissioned community partners who have an existing reach and engagement into the Bray community will be a key asset to the programme as they are already imbedded into your community.“Taking an evidence-based approach, this work will build on existing health and wellbeing programmes in the Bray community and mobilise available resources to address local needs.”
Mr Brian Gleeson, Chief Executive, Wicklow County Council said: “As Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, I am delighted that Bray is included in the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme and the Council looks forward to working with our partners in the Department of Health and the HSE and the wider community in Bray, to enhance the health and wellbeing agenda.”
To ensure the area of Bray have access to the full enhanced health and wellbeing programme, a core group of services will be established and operated by the HSE. These services include Stop Smoking Advisors, QUIT smoking services, Parenting Programmes, Healthy Food Made Easy, Social Prescribing, and Make Every Contact Count (MECC). Better access to this range of services will help improve and promote healthier lifestyle behaviours with the aim of supporting the community’s wellbeing.
Aisling Heffernan, Head of Service for HSE Health and Wellbeing for Community Healthcare East stated: “Health inequality impacts on life expectancy, the risk of chronic disease and the general health of a person. HSE Community Healthcare East welcomes the significant investment in Bray under the Sláintecare Healthy Communities programme to allow us to work in partnership with Wicklow County Council and local community groups to further enhance supports for tobacco cessation, healthy eating, parenting and social prescribing in the area. This investment and partnership approach will empower people to make healthier lifestyle choices to improve their overall physical and mental health and wellbeing.”
A once off total fund of €250,000 has been made available. The focus of this fund, the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Community Enhancement Scheme, is to support projects through Wicklow County Council that will positively impact on the health and wellbeing of those who live within the Bray area. This scheme has demonstrated a collaborative approach with Wicklow County Council, who worked alongside the local community and stakeholders to identify projects that support the increased use of, and access to, amenities in their areas and that invoke an improved sense of community.
This enhancement fund will enable various projects such as the installation of three community kitchens, which will facilitate the delivery of healthy eating and cookery courses; alongside the installation of calisthenics equipment and playground bouldering rocks and the refurbishment of a sports pavilion and playing pitches in Ballywaltrim.