Healthy Roscommon coordinator Aisling Dunne and the Community and Enterprise team of Roscommon County Council supported by the LCDC (Local Community Development Company) have been playing a leading role in creating awareness around the importance of improving our health as individuals to impact on the greater good within our communities.

“In our Healthy Roscommon strategy for 2023 to 2025, we have identified two key outcomes. The first is increasing the number of adults and children engaging in physical activity among the local population and the second is promoting an increase in positive mental health for everyone,” emphasises Aisling.

“We work extensively with Roscommon LEADER Partnership (RLP) and Roscommon Sports Partnership (RSP). This allows us to extend our reach into all communities in the county, particularly working with at risk and marginalised groups.

“Part of this remit includes working with members of the LGBTIQ+ community, children up to fourteen years of age, new Irish communities, lone parent families and members of the travelling community. It’s about empowering and supporting communities to look after their physical and mental well-being in a spirit of inclusion.

“Both RLP and RSP share the same objectives as ourselves, which makes them perfect implementing partners. We work with both groups through a variety of programmes and projects. One of the most successful has been the ‘Fit Farmers’ project, which has received national recognition.

“Another innovative project has seen the roll-out of multi-ability sports camps, particular for children and young adults with disabilities. We know the importance of encouraging physical activity from an early age and the importance of play for development”, says Aisling.

Proving that Healthy Roscommon is multi-disciplinary and collaborative, the project has also supported the local Roma community, in association with Foróige. This initiative has recently been nominated for a coveted ‘Pride of Place Award’, an All-Ireland community initiative recognising extraordinary local endeavour, supported by local authorities.

Other projects which the Healthy Roscommon project have interfaced with include supporting the use of sensory rooms for activities within communities from the Castlerea Family Resource Centre and the Seeking Safety project in collaboration with Roscommon Women’s Network.

Currently, a Healthy Roscommon Plan is being devised in the context of the recently announced Local Economic Community Plan (LECP), unveiled earlier this year and in line with the Healthy Ireland Framework. This Healthy Roscommon Plan will align with the goals of the LECP and will be launched later this autumn

The important piece in all of this is to engage with people, to listen to them and to ensure they have access to the tools they need, so they can start making the changes and feel the benefits of better physical and mental health ”, says Aisling.

For any queries or ideas about health initiatives or improvements in the community, contact Aisling Dunne through the Healthy Roscommon Facebook Page or on healthyroscommon@roscommoncoco.ie