PRIDE OF PLACE 2011: 'Pride of Place is an all-island competition which is directed towards recognising improvements by local communities to create civic pride in their area. The competition focus is on people coming together to shape, change and enjoy all that is good about their area. The competition is hosted by Co-operation Ireland under its Local Authority Programme in conjunction with the all-island Local Authority Steering Forum comprising officials from authorities in both parts of Ireland.' Cooperation Ireland website.
The H.E.A.R.T. Project was honoured to be nominated by the Belfast City Council in the category of 'Community Health Initiative' and was delighted to be announced as runner up at a gala dinner and awards ceremony held in the Amber Springs Hotel, Gorey, Co Waterford on Saturday 5th November 2011.

KNOW YOUR NUMBERS HEALTH DAY - for Men & Women. Wednesday 19th October midday to 4pm. Keeping a regular check on your own health statistics is every person's responsibility. Drop in to avail of the usual free checks and advice without having to make an appointment.  For more details call the H.E.A.R.T. Project office on 90310346 or Clan More Sure Start on 90327755.

FALLS SUMMER SCHEME 2011: The Falls Youth Providers has once again compiled a fantastic range of activities available for all children and young people over the summer months. A colourful booklet with all the details can be picked up from any of the local community centres including The Maureen Sheehan Centre 90310346, Frank Gillen Centre 90200346, Divis Community Centre 90242551, Roden Street 90310701, St Peters Youth Club 90331287, Falls Leisure Centre 90500510.

NEW TO THE H.E.A.R.T. Project - Kettle Bells & Zumba! Kettlebells are a weight which resembles a cannonball with a handle and are used to perform exercises that combine cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training. Zumba combines Latin & International music with a fun and effective workout. Details of class times for both of these new exercise classes are on the online diary or in the Pulse newsletter.

FALLS YOUTH PROVIDERS YOUTH AWARDS: Conway Mill Complex 7 - 9pm. Annual awards to recognise the achievements of the young people of the Falls. A run down of the event with all the winners names will be posted in the Young People's section of this site.

JUNE 2011: 21st Men's Focus Group. Want to try something different? Sport, language, debate, history - all these subjects and more can be explored within this new men's group. Come along on Tuesday 21st at 2.30pm. Any queries please phone Kevin on 90310346.

PUSHING THE BOAT OUT - Funding has been secured through the Belfast City Council's Support for Sport fund ( www.belfastcity.gov.uk/supportforsport )to hold a programme of multi-activities for a group of young adults with learning disabilities. Check out the Young People's section to read more about this great opportunity.

MAY 2011: Men's Health Day Tuesday 10th May between 3.30pm & 6.30pm. Men over 16 years come along and have a series of free health checks such as Blood Pressure, Blood Cholesterol, Blood Sugar, Carbon monoxide levels among others. You can have a free taster of any of our complimentary therapies such as acupuncture, massage and reflexology. We'll also be offering the services of a barber and sports physio. Further info from the H.E.A.R.T. Project on 90310346.

APRIL 2011: the 6th  Annual WADEATHON is being held in the Falls Leisure Centre pool on 8th April from midday. As an alternative to the Swimathon, this event allows non-swimmers to wade widths of the pool instead of swimming lengths. Sponsorship forms and further details are available from Siobhan on 90310346. All money raised goes to Marie Curie Cancer Care.*********footnote to the WADEATHON...this year we raised £1232.00!! Thanks to all who participated and those who sponsored so generously.
It brings our overall total since 2006 to £6,935.00.

NO SMOKING DAY 9th March - Time to Quit! Information and advice in the Maureen Sheehan Centre. Smoking cessation advice from the pharmacist in Medicare based in the Maureen Sheehan Centre. To arrange a session, call into the pharmacy or phone 90240437.

MARCH 2011: Coinciding with International Women's Day, we have another of our Health check days for any Women over the age of 16. Free health checks, complimentary and beauty therapies. Tuesday 8th March, the Maureen Sheehan Centre Between 1pm 4pm. No appointments necessary, justy come along...and bring a friend! More details ring 90310346. The ACTION CANCER BIG BUS will also be in attendance. If you wish to avail of their specialist services please call 90803344 to make an appointment in advance of the health day.

JANUARY 2011...Happy New Year! Get yourself back in action physically and/or mentally with any of our activities and course which kick off this month. Check out the online diary, or the H.E.A.R.T. Project's quarterly newsletter, The Pulse which is out now for details of what, where and when! For details on what the C.A.L.M. Programme has to offer this new year phone Kevin or Aidan on 90310346.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TEA DANCE: Friday 17th December in the Maureen Sheehan Centre with music for the over 50's from DJ Slick. Dancing from 2pm with afternoon tea, nibbles and a ballot. Tickets £3 from the H.E.A.R.T. Project office, issued on a first come, first served basis.

COMMUNITY AIR QUALITY MONITORING PROJECT UPDATE: The H.E.A.R.T. Project is working alongside Belfast City Council with their study of the Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels in Belfast and specifically to us, within the Falls Ward. NO2 is a pollutant which mainly comes from vehicle emissions. NO2 can have adverse effects on both health & the environment. NO2 can irritate the lungs and lower resistance to respiratory infections such as influenza. Five strategically placed tubes are changed every month and sent away for analysis. The results collated over the last 2 years show that the levels fall well under the recommended limit. The study is ongoing and more info is available on www.airqualityni.co.uk

OCTOBER 2010 - Men & Women 'Know Your Numbers' HEALTH CHECKS DAY. Thursday 21st October 12midday to 4pm. As with all our health days, there are no appointments necessary* and all checks are free. The event is held in the Maureen Sheehan Centre and the following checks / therapies will be made available:
Height/Weight/BMI; Cholesterol; Blood Pressure; Blood Sugar; Age Progression; Carbon Monoxide; Skin Scanner; Nutrition; Dietician; Heart team from RVH; Foot Care; Spine Age Progression; Colour Breathing; Reflexology; Massage; Acupuncture; Facials/Nails/Waxing; Barber. You can try as many or as few as you wish.
*The Action Cancer Big Bus will be in attendance offering cancer related screenings and advice for both men and women. To access the services of the Big Bus, you need to have made a prior arrangement by telephoning 90803344 before the day of the event.
Any enquiries about this event, please phone the H.E.A.R.T. Project on 9031346 or Clan Mor Sure Start on 90327755. See you there!!

SEPTEMBER 2010 Classes restart: Time to check out the diary for the restart days & times for our various courses and activities. Any queries, ring the office on 90310346.

SEPTEMBER 2010 Air Quality Monitoring Update - The H.E.A.R.T. Project continues to work in partnership with the Belfast City Council as the air quality study continues indefinately. The latest results from the Falls Ward have been compiled by the Council's Environmental Protection Unit and can obtained from the H.E.A.R.T. Project office (ring 90310346 and ask for Siobhan). More information about Air Quality Monitoring in Belfast and Northern Ireland is available at www.airqualityni.co.uk

DIABETES WEEK 2010...Therese Rice from the Medicare Pharmacy based in the Maureen Sheehan Centre raised £324.00 during Diabetes Week in June by undertaking the Divis Stair Challenge every lunchtime. (Climbing the 266 steps to the top of the tower with a 2lb bag of sugar). Well done Therese and thanks to those who donated and to those from the H.E.A.R.T. Project and elsewhere who joined Therese on the stairs at one time or another through the week. Diabetes UK funds vital research for a future without diabetes while helping children and adults to manage their diabetes today.

WADEATHON 2010...The 5th annual Wadeathon was once again held in the Falls Leisure Centre Pool on Monday 19th April. It was completed by 15 willing participants who raised £810.00 which was gratefully received by Marie Curie Cancer Care, Belfast. This brings our total donations to Marie Curie from the Wadeathon over the last 5 years to nearly £6000.00. Thanks to all who participated, all who donated and to the staff of the Falls Leisure Centre for their support and use of the fabulous pool and facilities.

JANUARY 2010 - St. Peter's Immaculata Youth Centre is re-opening it's doors after major refurbishment. The official opening will take place on Wednesday 20th January. The new youth leader in charge is Andrea Johnston who will continue the working partnership established with the Falls Youth Providers in catering for the young people of the Falls ward.

JANUARY 2010 - Dispensing pharmacy to open in the Maureen Sheehan Centre. A new Medicare pharmacy is to open in the Maureen Sheehan Centre on January 11th. The new look pharmacy will dispense prescriptions and offer a range of goods and services in keeping with the Medicare chain of stores. Click on 'M' in our Directory of Services to see Pharmacy contact details and hours of opening.

DECEMBER 2009 - The H.E.A.R.T. Project signs up to the 'we agree' campaign in support of the public consultation for the Older People's Commissioner. The closing date to sign up as a supporter is 7th Jan 2010. For more information and to sign up, visit the website at www.weagree.org.uk  or telephone 90230666.

NOVEMBER 2009 - Two new staff members join the H.E.A.R.T. Project team. Aidan Hamilton and Kevin Kennedy will run the C.A.L.M. Programme (see below & left)

Air Quality Monitoring Update...October 2009 - The H.E.A.R.T. Project continues to work in partnership with the Belfast City Council as the air quality study continues for at least another year. We'll be around changing the tubes on a monthly basis.

A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR MARGARET...JUNE 2009 - Our reflexology volunteer Margaret, has decided to hang up her hands and retire. Margaret volunteered for the H.E.A.R.T. Project as reflexologist, giving her time and expertise for the local community. She leaves behind a long list of appreciative people who received great benefits from her magic touch. We wish Margaret all the very best!
Margaret would like to thank all her clients who made her volunteering such a pleasure. 

The Big Lottery...Keeping communities Safe and Well
Grants totalling over £16.6 million have been awarded to 18 projects across Northern Ireland through the Big Lottery Fund’s Safe And Well programme to help people of all ages work together to promote wellbeing and tackle health and safety issues.
Albert Street Community Centre was was awarded over £700,000.00 towards a new 5 year initiative to Combat Anxiety by Lifestyle Management (CALM). The organisation will work in partnership with Time Associates, a private company focusing on learning and development, and Accept Care, which supports disadvantaged and disabled people. CALM will build on the work and further develop the foundations laid by the H.E.A.R.T. Project. The inclusion of the partners will help deliver the various strands of the project, tackling issues as diverse as fear of crime and suicide, to employability and mental health. 

SUMMER 2009...PLEASE NOTE: Most activities run by the H.E.A.R.T. Project take a break over July and August (except of course the Summer Schemes and the Walkabout Club). Please check the diary for restart dates in September 2009, and phone the office on 90310346 if you have any queries. 

SUMMER SCHEME 2009...The Falls Youth Providers are once again coordinating the summer scheme programmes available in the Falls area for 2009. This approach provides a variety of safe, supervised and coordinated activities which are available to children and young people in between the ages of 0 and 25 years. The organisations involved include Clan Mor Sure Start, The Welcome Trust, Falls Residents Association, Falls Leisure Centre & The H.E.A.R.T. Project. Registration days for the  following groups...Divis Youth Project, Roden Street, Divis Community Centre, Divis Play Group, St. Peters Youth Club are listed in the diary. (see end June / early July)
A detailed booklet of all events and times will be launched at the Youth Awards (see below) and distributed to all homes within the Falls area. Copies will also be available from the H.E.A.R.T. Project in the Maureen Sheehan Centre. 

YOUTH AWARDS 2009...The 3rd annual Falls Youth Providers Youth Awards takes place in St Mary's Teacher Training College on Tuesday 23rd June at 7.00pm.
These awards are a showcase of the talented, conscientious, community-orientated & hard working young people that live in our area. The 7 categories this year include Sporting; Health & Well Being; Education; Training; Citizenship; Participation; Culture & Arts. Winners will be selected by a panel of independant judges from nominations received from local youth & community workers. Specially commissioned crystal awards will be presented on the night and guest speaker will be Rossa Captain and Camogie Allstar Jane Adams. Free tickets for this special night are available from the H.E.A.R.T. Project. Call Jim on 90310346.

For a post event rundown of this awards night, checkout the Young People's section.


WADEATHON 2009...The 4th annual Wadeathon was once again held in the Falls Leisure Centre Pool  on Tuesday 21st April. Those participating walked widths of the pool to raise a whopping £1,150.00 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Many thanks to all those who took part and all those who gave so generously.


WOMEN'S HEALTH DAY...The H.E.A.R.T. Project and Clan Mor Sure Start are pleased to co-host another women's health day on Tuesday 10th March 2009. This is a chance for the Ladies to come along anytime between 10am and 1pm and have any number of health checks done with no appointment or cost. Enquiries to Jackie at H.E.A.R.T. on 90310346 or Anne at Clan Mor on 90327755. 

MEN'S HEALTH DAY ...The next Men's Health Day will be held in the Maureen Sheehan Centre on Thursday 26th February 2009 and is a relaxed event in which men can choose to drop in anytime between 3pm and 7pm for a health check up. It is a great opportunity for men to have a general check - much like you would do with your car. You wouldn't run your car without a service every now and then, so this is your chance to have an 'MOT' for your body.
You can decide what you want to have checked, and get advice or try a taster session on any or all of the following: Blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood sugar, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, acupuncture, reflexology and much more. The best bit, its FREE! Enquiries to Jim on 90310346

WATCH YOUR OWN HEART ATTACK ... Anyone can experience a heart attack. Would you know the symptoms or know what to do? The British Heart Foundation has made a short film that could help save a life. Click on the link and take a moment to watch the most important 2 minutes you may ever see.
http://bhf.org.uk/2minutes 

WOMEN'S HEALTH DAY On Tuesday 28th October 2008. The H.E.A.R.T. Project and Clan Mor Sure Start are holding another of their health days where the focus is on women. This free event invites all women over the age of 16 to take advantage of the numerous health checks available throughout the afternoon. No appointment needed, you just turn up to the Maureen Sheehan Centre anytime between 1.00pm and 4.00pm. Enquiries to 90310346. 

The H.E.A.R.T. Project offers a free, confidential, one to one counselling service with a trained counsellor in the Maureen Sheehan Centre. To arrange an appointment call Jackie on 90310346. 

LIFELINE is a regional helpline answered by trained counsellors who are experienced in dealing with suicide, self harm, abuse, trauma, depression and anxiety. The number is 0808 808 8000 ... lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and calls are free from all landlines and mobile phones.
A textphone service is also available on 18001 0808 808 8000.

TRI 4 ur HEART on World Heart Day, Sunday 28th September 2008...
This is the chance to raise awareness and help people better understand their personal risk for cardiovascular disease. Helping young people understand this by promoting a healthy lifestyle is key to their future health. To coincide with The World Heart Federation's promotion of World Heart Day, the H.E.A.R.T. Project and Falls Leisure Centre are organising a unique event for young people of the Greater Falls area.
The TRI 4 ur HEART event will offer young people (14 to 17 years) a chance to participate in a mini tri-athlon within the confines of the leisure centre. It is not a race against each other, but a chance to assess their own physical endurance. So grouped by age and gender, the young people will CYCLE 15mins, RUN 15mins, SWIM 10 mins. Certificates of completion will be awarded to all participants after the event by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Mr Tom Hartley (a keen cylclist and swimmer himself!). Please contact Siobhan or Jim at the H.E.A.R.T. Project for further details and/or registration form.
READ ALL ABOUT THE TRI 4 UR HEART EVENT IN THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S SECTION. Photos will be posted shortly.

HEY KIDS!!! Falls Summer Scheme 2008 is now ready for registration (from 30th June). The Falls Youth Providers has again developed a co-ordinated approach to the Summer schemes

Community Involvement in Air Quality Monitoring from June 2008:
Atmospheric pollution has become an increasing issue of concern. The major source of Nitrous Oxide in the atmosphere is from vehicle emissions and combustion processes. High levels of NO2 can impact health, contributing to respiratory problems. Belfast City Council are conducting a monitoring programme within the Falls area that will allow specific air quality data to be collected and analysed. The data is collected via a series of diffusion tubes which are placed around the area and changed monthly. With the cooperation of our partners in the area, the tubes have been located at the Maureen Sheehan Centre, Divis Community Centre, Frank Gillen Centre, Roden Street Community Centre and Divis tower. The H.E.A.R.T. Project is the community representative responsible for changing the tubes and sending them for analysis. The study will last for a minimum of a year. 

The Wadeathon raised *£850.00 this year! Our thanks to all those who took part, all those who sponsored the participants, and to the management and staff of the Falls leisure Centre. 

A note of thanks to all those who participated in or contributed to the Wadeathon 2008. This annual event is in its third year and offers participants a non-swimming alternative to the swimathon. All funds go to Marie Curie cancer care and the sum raised will be posted when all pledges are returned.
Watch this space for the final sum* and checkout the picture taken by Jim Corr of the Andersonstown News in our gallery on this site. 

The Falls Youth Providers are looking for nominations to represent the 8 categories in the forthcoming Youth Achievement Awards of 2008.
The awards are to celebrate youth excellence within the Falls area.
The 8 categories include 1. Education 2. Environmentalist 3. Health & Well-Being 4. Citizenship 5. Sporting 6. Participation 7. Cultural 8. Training
To nominate a young person aged between 7 and 25 years contact Jim at the H.E.A.R.T. Project for a nomination form or further details.
Closing date for nominations is the 19th May.
Presentation of awards will take place in the Long Hall at Stormont on the 23rd June 2008. ***
***Please see the YOUNG PEOPLE section of this website for details of the Awards night and a list of all the recipients.***


The H.A.B.I.T. Suite looks to be finally getting closer to installment. This facility will be a tremendous addition to the Maureen Sheehan Centre and to the general community. It will offer one to one assessment of health and fitness with a qualified instructor who will tailor a programme to an individual's needs. With top quality equipment to be installed (checkout the gear at www.technogym.co.uk) the H.A.B.I.T. Suite will be something everyone will want to get into.
The details of how to be referred to the H.A.B.I.T. Suite will be up and running by 2009. See section on the H.A.B.I.T. Suite.

The LOAF cafe located in the Maureen Sheehan Centre is the place to meet and eat in a relaxed atmosphere! Great food with a range of specialist coffees and other drinks are available at value prices. The cafe is run by the NOW Project and enables trainees with learning disabilities to gain experience and accreditation in the catering industry. Come on in and give it a go...the hot chocolate is delicious! Checkout the NOW Project's website at www.nowproject.co.uk