Anthony Frazer, AMH New Horizons Client, has been employed by Training Solutions NI as an Administration Assistant since September 2014.
During this time Anthony completed NEBOSH General Certificate and achieved a distinction. Anthony came top of this class and his score was one of the highest marks that anyone has achieved in Training Solutions NI within the last 10 years.
Pictured L-R: Nicola Penman Director of Health and Safety Training Solutions NI, Jim Stewart CBE, Managing Director of Training Solutions NI, Anthony Frazer, John Davis Service Manager AMH Antrim New Horizons, Anne McKernan Employment Office AMH New Horizons Antrim.
David Babington, Spokesperson for Together For Your and Chief Executive of Action Mental Health (Centre) celebrates the amazing achievement of reaching over 24,000 individuals with mental health services with Minister for Health Simon Hamilton MLA and Alison Fraser, Head of Funding at the Big Lottery Fund at an event in the Park Avenue Hotel today (17 June). Photography by Andrew Towe, Parkway Photography.
Since its launch in October 2013, Together For You, a partnership project funded by the Big Lottery Fund, has reached over 24,000 individuals in Northern Ireland with their mental health services. Led by Action Mental Health (AMH), services are delivered in partnership with Aware Defeat Depression, CAUSE, CRUSE, MindWise, Nexus, PraxisCare, Relate NI and The Rainbow Project.
To celebrate this amazing achievement, and to share the learning gained from delivering the wide range of mental health services delivered across the Together For You partnership, a Shared Learning Event was held today (17th June) in the Park Avenue Hotel, Belfast.
The event was opened by the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Simon Hamilton MLA and was attended by over 120 representatives from the public, private and voluntary and community sectors.
Health Minister, Simon Hamilton, has praised the voluntary sector for its contribution to improving services and support for people with mental health problems. “I have long recognised the value of our local voluntary sector. Staff and volunteers have a personal insight into the needs of those they are helping. With this unique perspective they can often devise new, innovative and more person-centred services from those traditionally provided by the statutory sector.
“The ‘Together For You’ services complement those delivered by the five Trusts. Indeed, it is as a result of the voluntary and statutory sectors working together that we have been able to significantly improve the lives of those living with mental health problems and progress toward the modern and diverse mental health services envisaged by Bamford.”
David Babington, Chief Executive for Action Mental Health said
“It is fantastic to see so many individuals benefiting from the mental health services available under Together For You. The success of this partnership is detriment to the hard work of all the Partners delivering services to the highest standards. It is also important to acknowledge the wider impact of services on the community, family members and carers who also indirectly benefit from the positive impact of services on their loved ones mental health and from the efforts to reduce stigma surrounding mental ill-health. The event today will allow us to share our learning and experiences so far with each other and with other voluntary, community and statutory organisations, helping to further discussion on mental health interventions and service delivery.”
It’s no coincidence the event was held during Men’s Health Week (15th – 21st June).
Amanda Jones, Project Manager for Together For You explains
“Our services can help young and old, men and women, but during this week we do want to use the event to encourage men to ask for help and seek support. It’s ok to NOT be ok! Services like befriending, bereavement support, specially tailored counselling, support for carers, mental health awareness programmes, peer group support and volunteering opportunities are all available through Together For You. We were delighted to welcome Dr Ian Banks to speak at the event today specifically on men’s mental health issues”.
Joanne McDowell, Big Lottery Fund NI Director, said:
“The Big Lottery Fund is delighted to be supporting the Together For You partnership, which is promoting mental health and wellbeing across Northern Ireland. It is encouraging to see that this contract is providing important services in collaboration, and that these are focused on the needs of users.”
Services under Together For You are available to everyone in Northern Ireland. To find out more contact the Together For You team on 028 9032 9150; email [email protected] or visit www.togetherforyou.org.uk for more information.
Front Row (l-R) David Babington (Action Mental Health), Edward Gorringe (MindWise), Paul Collins (Praxis Care).
Back row (l-R) Maire Grattan (CAUSE), Dave Murphy (Relate NI), Siobhan Doherty (Aware Defeact Depression), Paul Finnegan (Cruse Bereavement Care), Pam Hunter (Nexus NI) and Malachai O’Hare (The Rainbow Project).
Photography by Parkway Photography.
David Babington, Spokesperson for Together For Your and Chief Executive of Action Mental Health (Centre) celebrates the amazing achievement of reaching over 24,000 individuals with mental health services with Minister for Health Simon Hamilton MLA, Alison Fraser, Head of Funding at the Big Lottery Fund and Amanda Jones, Project Manager for Together For Your (far right) at an event in the Park Avenue Hotel today (17 June).
Photography by Andrew Towe, Parkway Photography.
A football tournament to benefit AMH and PIPS will take place week commencing July 20th in Jennings Park, Newry.
Eight leading teams from the South Down and South Armagh area will compete in a knock out competition that will see clubs from different leagues play each other. The quality of the teams taking part is excellent with most of the teams being major winners in their individual leagues last season. Camlough Rovers, Windmill Stars, Warrenpoint Town, Newry City, Newry Celtic, Rostrevor Rovers and Cleary Celtic have confirmed that they will play. Action Mental Health & PIPS are looking forward to at tournament that promises entertainment and strong competition. Hopefully the tournament will be well supported by the local community and football supporters.
Sport, either played or watched, can have a positive effect in helping people with poor mental health and also breaking down barriers to mental ill health and suicide and self harm in the community. We hope that this tournament will raise awareness of issues, especially with young men who find it difficult to talk about their condition.
During the course of a year one in four people will experience some type of mental health issue. Anyone may be affected, regardless of age, gender, social class or lifestyle.
The Wilson Group take its responsibilities for the wider community very seriously and as part of its annual Corporate Social Responsibility Plan, sponsor a different local Charity each year. This year their chosen Charity is Action Mental Health.
Wilson Group were one of the main sponsors of the recent ‘Give it a Shot’ Clay Pigeon Shoot day which took place in the Field of Dreams in Bangor. The event which attracted many experienced (and not so experienced) shooters, also included, archery, a BBQ and raffle on the day. It was a huge success raising in excess of £7,700.00 for Action Mental Health.
There are plans for many other events throughout the year and the Nursing Homes in the Group will hold various Open Day. All proceeds raised at each event will be donated to Action Mental Health.
Abingdon Manor Care Centre, which is based at 949 Crumlin Road, Belfast BT14 8FG (Tel: 028 9075 1212) are holding their Open Day on Friday 19th June 2015. Events will run from 11am – 4pm on the day and will include: –
Armchair aerobic
Buffet Lunch (£2 per head)
Cookery Demonstration by Root Soup
Live Entertainment from 3pm- 4.00pm
Ballymaconnell Nursing Home located at 48 Ballymaconnell Road, Bangor BT20 5PS (Tel: 028 9127 1819) is holding its Open Day on Saturday 20th June 2015. Events start at 2pm and will include: –
Musical Entertainment
BBQ
Fun for all the family ie: face painting / bouncy castle etc
Chester Nursing Home, 27-29 Chester Avenue, Whitehead BT38 9QQ (Tel: 028 9335 3060) is holding its Open Day onFriday 19th June 2015. Events will run from 11am – 3pm and will include: –
A Tea Party (around 11am)
Buffet Lunch
Musical Entertainment
Casey’s Creatures
Larne Care Centre, based at the Harbour – 46-48 Coastguard Road Larne BT40 1AU (Tel: 028 2827 7979) is holding its Open Day on 27th June 2015. Events will run from 11am – 3pm and will include:
BBQ
Tombola
Musical Entertainment
Bottle & Book Stalls
Whitehead Nursing Home, located at the promenade at Whitehead – 15-18 Marine Parade, Whitehead BT38 9QP (Tel: 028 9335 3481) held its Open Day on Thursday 18th June 2015. Great fun was had by all during the living history and story-telling sessions and the Buffet Lunch and musical entertainment provided were enjoyed by both clients and visitors alike.
Everyone is welcome at the Homes various Open Days and all proceeds will be in aid of Action Mental Health, Wilson Group’s sponsored Charity for 2015.
Massive thanks, especially to Johnny Gallagher and Terence Lafferty, organisers of the Ultimate Dance Kraze competition who raised a staggering £4672.53 from their recent event! Over two nights in early May, all sorts of dance acts took to the stage in Strabane to compete for the Ultimate prize. Many congratulations to the winners Dance Fusion! You can follow Ultimate Dance Kraze on facebook, to see lots of photos and videos of the night and find out about next year’s event!
Lloyds Banking Group really did make a difference on Friday 28 May 2015. AMH New Horizons Antrim and the Men’s Shed have greatly benefited from the most generous donation of time, effort and hard work that Lloyd’s volunteers gave to assist us with the development of our garden project.
A big thank you to all those involved in the volunteer day, which included tasks such as, moving and spreading 24 tons of soil for our new lawn area, painting a 60 foot fence both sides!, weeding our raised beds and potato plots, washing dozens of donated garden planters to be reused and sold with summer plants, removing litter and brushing pathways.
We even had a visitor today in our garden pond!
Everyone had great fun and enjoyed this very real challenge! Once again many thanks from the staff and clients from AMH New Horizons Antrim and Men’s Shed.
We had an amazing day on Saturday in the beautiful surroundings of Field of Dreams in Bangor for the first ever AMH Give It A Shot Clay Pigeon competition. The event was organised in partnership with the Wilson Group, our charity partner.
Particular thanks to Des Wilson and Neil McIvor for their support, and to all our volunteers and competitors. Many congratulations to Jamsie Clydesdale who won the perpetual cup with a score of 25/30.
Local celeb Pamela Ballentine also dropped by and was not only a great shot but also the best of fun helping out with the BBQ!
Lots of money was raised and there was also a lots of goodies to be won in the raffle.
Many congratulations to our very own IT Manager, James Costello who completed this year’s Belfast City Marathon.
Taking on the challenge, James said,
“I am hoping to raise £500 for AMH and hopefully give something back to a fantastic organisation that I have been lucky enough to work with for 5 years. I have experienced first hand the incredible work we do with people living with Mental Health needs or a learning disability and how we try to improve their quality of life through caring support facilities across Northern Ireland.
I am heavily involved with Football so wouldn’t class myself as a “Runner” so marathon’s aren’t what I am used to. Being an I.T professional sometimes carries a stigma of not being the sporting type but I am running to break that mould and prove to the good people of the world that I.T professionals are all-rounders! Fingers crossed I manage to get over the finish line still dawning the AMH colours and do everyone proud”.
James completed the marathon in a time of 4 hours 11 minutes! He also smashed his fundraising target and raised an incredible £850! Well done James and thank you!
