Fatima Mansions Dublin Ireland inner city regeneration project

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About Us
Fatima Mansions
Chronological Tour 1949 - 2007

FATIMA CURRENT PROJECTS
1. Development Team
2. Cultural Arts
3. Health Initiative
4. Childrens Daycare Centre
5. Community Employment Project

PUBLICATIONS
1. Dream, Dare, Do
2. 11Acres / 10 Steps
3. Things Can Be Different
4. Eight Great Expectations
5. Two Communities in Transition
6. Real Guide to Regeneration

Links
Contact Us
Contact Form

PHOTO GALLERY
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FATIMA HEALTH INITIATIVE
Beautiful hands... Manicures and Pedicures
Hot Towel Shaves
Fruit and Smoothies

AIM

The Fatima Health Initiative is a community development health project which aims to tackle the high rates of ill-health within Fatima Mansions and improve the holistic and spirit of the community.

Through a range of programmes the Fatima Health Initiative provides a space which allows local people an opportunity to put their own well being at the top of the agenda and deal with the stresses of day to day living.

ETHOS

The Fatima Health Initiative has a common understanding of the causes of poverty and its effect on the health of communities. The initiative works from the principles of participation, equality, belief in people’s ability to change and identify solutions, supporting individuals to participate in collective action on health.

PROGRAMME  ACTIVITIES

Women’s Group

Once a week a group of local women meet to enjoy a variety of activities, including art, cooking, relaxation, including discussion on health related topics. In a recent evaluation the women highlighted the importance of having some space for themselves away from the daily stress of family life.  The group is resourced/co-ordinated by our health staff.

Men’s Work

In conjunction with the FGU Development Team we have started to link with a group of men who are isolated from the main community in Fatima.  Our main aim is to integrated them into the community through establishing relationships and developing programmes with them. This project is also being assisted by the Rialto Community Drug Team.

In addition we are organising more activities for younger and older men.

Healthy Eating

Holistic Sessions

Each Tuesday morning and evening, local people avail of a range of holistic therapies including, acupuncture, massage, reiki and hair dressing.  Healthy food including fruit is made available.

Mini Marathon/Physical Fitness

A group of 25 women walked the Women’s Mini Marathon in June ‘07 and trained twice to three times a week for this event.  The levels of participation in this event have highlighted the need for local people to engage in physical fitness programmes.  We hope to build on this and set up a physical training group.
 

Fatima women walked the Womens mini marathon 2007

Counselling

Hesed House (Community Development Counselling Service) offers its services once a week in the Community Centre. This service is facilitated by our staff and has proven to be beneficial for local people accessing counselling services in their locality. 

Public Health Nurse

Each week the Public Health Nurse is available in the Community Centre alongside a community development and health worker to allow local people access to their services.  This includes baby checks, blood pressure, one to one advice, etc.

Education Advice

Each week the VEC Literacy tutor works alongside a community development and health worker informing and advising local people of educational opportunities.  This has helped local people to avail of courses such as office skills, computers, cookery,  communications, etc.

Training

There is ongoing training within the team and also alongside the Dolphin Health Initiative which the project works very closely with on issues relating to health, inequality, poverty etc..  We have recently begun to develop a policy on best practice in the delivery of complementary health programmes with other community health initiatives across the Canals area.

Festivals and Events

Fatima Health Initiative ensures that there is a ‘health’ element to most of the community events that have taken place over the years. This includes ‘Looking Good Feeling Good’ Days where well being treatments are offered to both men and women including:

      • Holistic Therapies
      • Manicures and Pedicure
      • Lots of Healthy Food!
      • Hot Towel Shaves
      • Hair Dressing

Nails

Hands and Feet airbrushed nails

Networking

As a member of a growing network of community development health projects we link continually with other similar projects and are part of the Action Learning Unit coordinated by Community Action Network.   Through the Combat Poverty Building Healthy Communities Programme we network on a twice yearly basis.

Questions a community can ask themselves

  • Who are the best people to influence others when it comes to health?
  • How do local people have a say in and influence what is put in place for their own health?
  • What would a Health & Well-being Facility look like if it is community led & influenced?
  • How do local people gain the knowledge to make an improvement to their own health?
  • What does a community development approach to health really mean?

Future Work

  • We hope to work closely with the Rialto Youth Project and with younger people in general.
  • Food Project
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FGU Butterfly ... Symbol of Regeneration

FGU  Butterfly
 Symbol of our Community Regeneration