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Granite Challenge 2014

Team AMH Granite Challenge

AMH’s keen cyclists are already in training for the organisation’s annual cycling sportive – the Granite Challenge – which returns this year on Sunday 5th October 2014 at 10am – to kick off the week of World Mental Health Day events.

This not-to-be-missed 55 mile, cycling sportive is supported by local cycling club, La Lanterne Rouge and Mourne Cycles.  The Granite Challenge starts at AMH’s New Horizons unit in Downpatrick, cycling via Tyrella towards Dundrum, then along the coast road through the seaside town of Newcastle, towards Annalong.

Then it’s up into the Mourne Mountains, past Silent Valley. The climb up to Spelga will be rewarded at the top with tea and homemade traybakes. Then it’s downhill towards home, through Bryansford, Maghera and Clough. Final destination Downpatrick, where a bowl of homemade vegetable soup awaits you!

 

Gchallenge2You can register now for the event. Minimum entrance fee is £15 which includes a goody bag, Tea Stop at Spelga and Lunch.

Register securely on line: www.gchallenge.eventbrite.co.uk

All proceeds will go to Action Mental Health to help their support services and outreach work across Northern Ireland.

Branded cycling jerseys are also available to buy at the online ticketing shop

 

The event was a roaring success last year, with cyclists and clubs from all over NI taking part:

“A very well organised event from start to finish.  I think all at La Lanterne Rouge enjoyed the challenge, the craic and food at the end was super.  Home-made pancakes! Yum” – Niall Cochrane

“Thanks for a great cycle today. Organisation was first class and it was only surpassed by the buns, soup, scones, pancakes ….. and much more”Daryll Madine

Belfast Pride 2014

Belfast Pride Logo

Action Mental Health and the Big Lottery funded Together For You project, of which we are the charity partner lead, will be exhibiting at this year’s Pride Festival on Saturday 2nd August 2014 in the Buoy Park between 11.00 – 17.00

We will be raising awareness of positive mental health and wellbeing for members of the LGB&T communities as well as promoting the support services available in the local community.

Come along to our stall and chat to our staff!

Steeplechase 2014

20th September 2014

Delamont Country Park

Steeple Chase logoIn association with East Down Athletics Club, this isn’t just another running event – this is a race with a difference. Competitors will not only be running through the forests in the beautiful surroundings of Delamont Country Park, but they will also be hurdling/leaping/skipping/falling* (*delete as appropriate) over some obstacles along the way! The obstacles will be low enough for everyone to have a go, whether they are elite cross-country runners or complete novices.

There are two distances: the main event is 6 miles and the fun chase is 3 miles, so come and have a go! All ages and abilities are welcome – the aim is to have fun, feel good about yourself and raise some important funds for AHM. And we have prizes available for 1st, 2nd ad 3rd winners.

Steeple Chase:  Registration fee of £10. Registration desk open from: 09.00am with race at 11.00am.

Fun Chase:  Registration fee of £5. Registration desk open from: 09.00am with race at 11.00am.

Prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd places

Sponsorship forms available to download from https://www.amh.org.uk/fundraising/ Register online at www.athlecticsni.org

Funchase2

MensSana Fun Day & Health Fair

children-playing-football

On Saturday 2 August, 1pm – 3pm, Lisburn Distillery F.C. and Action Mental Health MensSana are working together to highlight the link between our physical and mental health.

MensSana, which means ‘healthy minds’, offers training for young people (8-25years) in schools and youth settings in the Northern, South Eastern and Belfast Trust areas to promote awareness and understanding of mental health issues, challenge stigma and misconceptions.They provide a number of interactive workshops through which they develop support in the area of mental and emotional wellbeing using a range of activities that are tailored to suit group needs.

On the 2 August, in conjuntion with Lisburn Distillery F.C, AMH MensSana will be demontrating, through a number of activities, how your physical health is related to your mental health.

These fun activities include:

  • Learning about healthy food options
  • FREE Blood Pressure Checks
  • Football competitions
  • Bouncy Castle
  • FREE Sports Massage
  • Mental health support organisations
  • The 3 minute workout.

 

When: Saturday 2 August, 1pm-3pm

Where: Lisburn Distillery FC, New Grosvenor Stadium, 57 Ballyskeagh Road, Lambeg, LISBURN.

FREE Parking available.

For more information on our programmes for young people, please see the ‘How can we help‘ page on the Together For You website.

 

Together For You is an innovative project, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, aimed at delivering mental health and wellbeing services to a range of people across Northern Ireland in a joined-up way. Through a range of services we can help young and old, men and women, minority groups (Black and Minority Ethnic and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) and marginalised groups (prisoners, NEETS (Not in education, employment or training) and unemployed).

BSO Gives Mental Illness “The Boot”

BSO football match 1As the World Cup draws to a close, local amateur players from The Business Services Organisation (BSO) in Franklin Street, Belfast are celebrating their own success with the proceeds of their charity football match going to support local mental health services.

Representatives of Action Mental Health are pictured presenting the charity’s “Heads Up” award to members of BSO.

The group raised £1,118.10 at their event held on 6th June at the Dubs Pavillion on the Malone Road. AMH’s Head of Business Development Brian Murtagh presented the trophy to the winning team, the Family Practitioner Services (FPS), and thanked the group for choosing AMH as their benefactor.

BSO Football Match Cheque

Gemma Gets Gold!

gemma special olympics

Written by Anika (ALJ), Promote Client:

 

This year the Special Olympics, took place in Limerick on 12th June 2014.

AMH Promote’s own Gemma O’Keefe took part in these events, entering the Women’s shot-put and coming in 2nd place with an impressive 5m.91cm throw.

As well as the shot-put, Gemma entered the Ladies javelin competition and came 1st, throwing further than 10m!

Afterwards, Miss O’Keefe said;

“I really enjoyed the Opening Ceremony and found the whole experience great fun.”

She then went on to say that she hopes to get selected for next year’s Special Olympics, taking place in Los Angeles of all places!

 

Congratulations and good luck Gemma!

 

 

Local Author Book Launch for AMH

Sinead McGarrigle Book Cover

“She’s Got the Whole World in Her Hands” by Sinead McGarrigle will launch in Down Arts Centre on Wednesday, June 25 from 7.30pm to 8.30pm.

Author Sinead will donate 15% of book sales on the night to Action Mental Health’s New Horizons service in Downpatrick.

The Seaforde woman — a rehabilitation trainer, craniosacral therapist and counsellor — enjoys helping those affected by both physical and mental illness, having recovered from her own period of darkness twelve years ago.

Exhaustion had prompted a nervous breakdown, which left her in Belfast City Hospital and facing a major crossroads in her life.

Making a bargain with her GP, she said was going to try to sort her life out herself, with the help of mum and dad, and if that didn’t work she was coming back for any treatment he suggested.

She never had to make that return journey, and after going on to start up her own business Lifetime Health, she has produced the book  with some of the techniques that have helped her and many others.

Sinead’s book is available for pre-order by contacting 07779 121274. It will also be on sale from the Lifetime Health website from next Wednesday.

Muddy Minds!

muddy mindsAMH New Horizons, Antrim has a new community garden to enjoy, thanks to the ‘Muddy Minds’ project, the official launch of which took place last Friday (6 June).

Antrim Borough Council’s Health and Well Being Manager, Alison Briggs explains,

“Muddy Minds is a community garden project designed to contribute to the improvement of mental and emotional well-being. The launch celebrates the partnership and community development approaches and joint working of the various organisations involved. Mostly it celebrates the contribution of the New Horizon clients. We had worked with Action Mental Health previously on an employability project and the garden project developed out of that.”

Sandy Webb from AMH explained,

“Our clients signed up to participate in the garden project. The garden is user led and grows fruit and vegetables using organic methods. A gardener supports the clients with the growing process and also provides healthy recipes using the produce grown. The clients are then able to bring the produce home with them.”

Elaine O’ Doherty Health and Social Well-being Improvement Manger with the Public Health Agency said,

“An initial evaluation report on the project has shown that there are numerous direct and indirect benefits to the clients including getting physical exercise, learning about growing, finding the work relaxing or calming and therefore helping them with their conditions and increasing their confidence levels.”

The garden is user-led which is an important element. Clients are involved in the decision making and sit on a Muddy Minds steering group. The Muddy Minds steering group take all decisions in relation to the garden project which creates ownership for the clients.