Carrickfergus health hub

How was the need for Carrickfergus' Health Hub project first identified?

The need for the project was externally identified by the Public Health Agency, who had run a pilot in a number of towns across Northern Ireland, when it was identified that young people were not accessing appropriate services and that a youth friendly service was needed as a link.

What are your project’s aims or objectives?

The Health Hub seeks to create a safe space where young people can access support and information on a range of health issues.

There is a weekly social & recreation programme with music, crafts and sport which helps the staff build trust with the young people who can then access information, support and referral to support services in the area. The Health Hub offers bespoke health training on a range of areas in youth centres, training organisations and schools as well as an intensive family support element.

What were some of the highlights for the programme during the past year?

The Health Hub ran an 8 week “5- Steps to Mental Health” programme over the summer of 2016. The Public Health Agency identified the 5 Steps: Get Active, Get Involved, Take Notice, Learn something new, Give of yourself. An active and engaging programme was developed that challenged the young people and highlighted the need to look after your mental health and ways to do that.

How does your project try to capture or measure the outcomes for young people/the community?

The Health Hub staff collect data through Upshot in which staff record individual attendances, achievements and challenges as well as project details which can report on associated outcomes. The One to One work uses the Outcome star to measure impact and change.

What new challenges/opportunities has your project identified that it would hope to tackle in the future?

We have a number of campaigns that we would like to involve the young people of Carrickfergus. Pedometer Challenge to get the young people more active, #IAMWHOLE to look at mental health and Juice Bar encouraging young people to try healthier alternatives to coffee & fizzy juice.

“This program helped me from going crazy as I got to talk to staff about situations that were going on in my life and they have helped me to find ways to cope”