Blog: The Courage of Leadership - Ervine / Meyer

If anyone was going to "force my hand" back to blogging after a 6 month absence, it was always going to be David Ervine.

Seven years on from his untimely death, his influence and voice still resonate with so many and so they will again next Tuesday night, when the paths of two great leaders will, metaphorically, cross.

Roelf Meyer, the National Party's Chief Negotiator with the ANC which led to the end of apartheid, will be the keynote speaker at the David Ervine Foundation Annual Memorial Talk.  Meyer joins an illustrious group of speakers at the event which over the past few years has included Senator George Mitchell, former Chief Constable Hugh Orde, Bertie Ahern and Tom Moran from New York, who was so critical to our Peace Process.

Blog: A Peace Day & Peaceful Week

If you're intending to celebrate "Arthur's Day" on 27th September, then give a thought for "Peace Day" on the 21st.

Until recently the U.N. International Day of Peace was one of the world's better kept secrets.  Yet in the past few years it has been recognised with 24 hour ceasefires in conflict zones around the world, allowing for example, almost half a million children in Afghanistan to be inoculated; down to small events in towns, schools, streets and communities.

In 2001, ironically two days before 9/11, the British Government and Costa Rica proposed at the United Nations General Assembly, that 21st September each year should be officially recognised as the "International Day of Peace and non- violence".  It was agreed unanimously.

Blog: Clear and Future Danger

On 1st January 1977, Graeme Dougan at 18 months, one of the youngest victims of the troubles, was killed in a bombing in Harmin Drive in Glengormley.

That year ended as it began. On the 31st December 1977, Gordon Quinns body was found dumped in a skip in the old Hammer area of the Shankill. He was 18 years old.

I knew Gordon well enough to go to his funeral three days into the New Year. It was a big funeral, with several hundred young lads turning out as a mark of respect for their mate. Behind them and towards the back of the funeral procession, I happened to be walking alongside a leading UDA figure of the time. Chatting, as you do, as you walk behind the hearse, he nodded towards the large number of young lads ahead of us.

Blog: Golden Memories

London 2012 the best ever Olympics? Probably, but one thing for sure, like the Battle of the Boyne, they'll be remembered for a long time for so many reasons and not just because they were 'our' Olympics.

My earliest Olympic memory, and I know this will shock you all, goes right back to the Rome games in 1960, only because it's when we got our 1st TV (yes it was black & white). Even a certain Cassius Clay winning light heavyweight boxing gold didn't cross my radar. Mary Rand's 1964 Tokyo long jump gold did register a bit, as did Bob Beamon's unbelievable jump in Mexico City in '68 but beyond that I only remember the Black Power salutes at those Games.

Then of course there's Munich, forever marred by the horror of the Black September murder of the Israeli athletes and the joy of Mary Peters' gold during those dark days of our own horrors on the streets of N. Ireland. And what of Montreal 1976, that's if you were even born then? Beyond Nadia Comaneci's perfect gymnastic 10 & David Wilkie's brave swimming gold, can you recall anything without Googling?

Blog: Commitment Required From All Agencies On Early Interventions

"Without commitment from Ministers' and those responsible for health and social care, education and criminal justice to implementing an early intervention approach, Northern Ireland will not be able to effectively tackle the problems emerging for at-risk children, young people and their families".

"All too often interventions attempt to deal with problems that are already well entrenched.  This is not only ineffective in helping these young people with issues ... it is also more expensive".

"The report recommends that there is a clear commitment to the early interventions approach from Ministerial representatives".

"There needs to be consensus between those responsible for health and social care, education ... criminal justice ... social development, employment and learning and the environment".

"While the ultimate impact may take several years ... and the costs may need to be shifted from other services, there needs to be a clear commitment to an early intervention approach.  The alternative is a confirmed failure, as a society, for our most vulnerable children".

Believe it or not, this is not the case mounted by Greater Shankill / West Belfast Integrated Services for Children & Young People (ISCYP) for continued funding beyond 30 September 2012 when it is threatened, once again, with closure (fourth time in 2 ½ years)!  It is, in fact, quotes from the Criminal Justice Inspection Report for Northern Ireland by the Chief Inspector Brendan McGuigan, published last week (http://www.cjini.org).

And again, "The overwhelming themes ... were the complexity of these families' lives and the length of time problems had gone on for – in many cases from generation to generation".

"The traditional approach of services reaching individual family members, at crisis point or after, and trying to fix single issues such as 'drug use, 'non-attendance at school' or 'domestic violence' ... is most often destined to fail.  Their problems can be properly understood only by looking at the full cycle – and the full family.  This requires ... the long view."

"The next part of the challenge will be  ... to reshape, redesign and refocus services."

Is this from ISCYP?  Again no!  This time the quotes come from a report "Listening to Troubled Families", by Louise Casey, David Cameron's political adviser (http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/listeningtroubledfamilies).  £448 million has been made available in England by the U.K. Government and local Councils for family intervention programmes.

These two reports, published last week, make the case, if it was needed, for the Northern Ireland Executive at Stormont to find the means to mainstream / commission Integrated Services (ISCYP) to continue its incredible work with children, young people and their families in Greater Shankill and West Belfast and to expand the service to North and East Belfast.

ISCYP is way ahead of the game compared to what is just starting up in England – let's keep it there!

Social Prescribing

GSP Health & Wellbeing Officer Dympna Johnston with staff from Ballygomartin GP Practice

The Greater Shankill Health & Wellbeing Forum launched its leaflet on 'Social Prescribing' at Ballygomartin GP Practice last week. Social prescribing is a way of linking people with non-medical sources of support within the community. This can include physical activity, social groups, education, self help, counselling, parenting support, complimentary therapies, financial or parenting advice.

The leaflet demonstrates how GPs and Community Service providers can work together to help support people with their health issues in a more holistic way.

You can get a copy of the leaflet from GSP, or download an electronic copy here.