Celebrating 21years Global issues: a Belfast response 2009 2005 2001 2003 Celebrating 21years Contents Preface 4 Phase IV (2003-2008): Designing healthier 16 Foreword 5 and safer cities: the challenge of healthy urban places Phase I (1988-1992): Catalyst for change 6 Healthy Urban Planning: integrating health into 16 The first partnership in the city 6 spatial planning policy Systematic community engagement 6 Introducing healthy ageing 17 Research on traffic calming 7 Healthy Ageing Strategic Partnership 18 First home safety check scheme in Northern Ireland 7 Building the evidence base 18 First intersectoral play policy for children 7 Eastern Area ‘Investing for Health’ Indicators 18 Healthy Buildings Award 8 Divided by Health: A City Profile 18 Capacity building: providing evidence and 19 Phase II (1993-1997): Local government 6 tools for action for health development Equity in Health – Tackling inequalities 19 A New Vision for Health lecture series 19 Focusing on the health needs of women 9 Sharing learning internationally 20 Production of ‘Towards a City Health’ plan: 9 World Summit on Sustainable Development, 20 Johannesburg 2002, Phase III (1998-2002): Action on 10 Healthy Cities Conference, Taipei 2004 20 inequalities in health in Europe Capacity Building Symposium for Korean 20 Healthy Cities, Seoul 2005 Planning for a Healthy City: a city health 10 Active living 21 development plan Study visits 21 Quality of Life Matrix 10 Contacts for Older People 11 Phase V (2009-2013): Striving for health 22 Positive Minds 11 and health equity in all local policies 2003 International Healthy Cities Conference, 12 Belfast Declaration Secretariat for WHO European Healthy Cities Network 22 Pioneering Health Impact Assessment 13 Phase V framework: Equity from the Start: Health and 22 Community Health Impact Assessment 14 Health Equity in All Local Policies World Health Organisation HIA sub network 14 Chairs of Belfast Healthy Cities 23 Preface from the World Health Organization Europe the WHO European Healthy Cities The high level commitment and Network from the establishment consistency within Belfast endorses of the network in 1988. As a city, its position as current Secretariat of Belfast has demonstrated successful the WHO European Healthy Cities implementation of the Healthy Cities Network. approach; of the qualities of a healthy city and of the core themes during This publication highlights some of the each of the four five year phases successes that Belfast has delivered to date. Working with Belfast has during the past 21 years. I would like been an inspiration to WHO and to to extend my personal congratulations European cities and colleagues. to everyone in the city and beyond The Belfast Healthy Cities partnership for their strength and determination The World Health Organization has been creative, vibrant and - sometimes during challenging (WHO) Healthy Cities programme innovative, seeking to put health high local circumstances - in working engages local governments in on the political and social agenda of towards achieving healthy city health development through a the city; building a strong movement status. I would also like to take the process of political commitment, for public health at the local level and opportunity to thank the city for their institutional change, capacity building, demonstrating leadership by a range active participation and contribution partnership-based planning and of partners within the city. The city to the European Network. The city innovative projects. It promotes has displayed exemplary qualities of has taken significant steps forward comprehensive and systematic political and professional commitment in recent years. I know that many policy and planning with a special to achieve ‘a health city’ status and challenges remain but continuing emphasis on health inequalities alongside this has also contributed to work collaboratively within the and urban poverty, the needs of extensively to the WHO European network provides the opportunity to vulnerable groups and the social, Network. respond to the emerging public health economic and environmental issues and health inequities of the determinants of health. It also strives WHO was pleased to host the highly future. I look forward to continuing to include health considerations in successful third International Healthy that work with colleagues in Belfast economic, regeneration and urban Cities Conference in Belfast in 2003. during the next five year phase. development efforts. Belfast was the lead city of Health Impact Assessment sub network Dr Agis Tsouros Healthy Cities is a global movement. within the European network during Head of Healthy Cities & Urban Over 1200 cities and towns from over Phase IV (2003-2008) and the Belfast Health, WHO Regional Office thirty countries in the WHO European Director was chair of the WHO for Europe region are healthy cities. Belfast has European Healthy Cities Advisory been an active and lead member of Committee during this period. 4 Celebrating 21years Foreword right from the beginning – it has inequalities in health in the city. With brought with it many benefits to other partners from the public sector - the city. housing, health, environment, policing, transport, planning, education and Belfast Healthy Cities has introduced regeneration – and from the political, a range of new concepts city wide private, university, voluntary and and regionally – many of which are community sectors, as a city we can now mainstreamed; some which work together to make a fundamental remain a challenge to all sectors. difference in the lives of the citizens Partnership working; integrated that experience poorest health. planning for health; understanding the social determinants of health; health The city has changed significantly in I am very pleased to present Belfast impacts and inequalities in health the past twenty one years and with Healthy Cities’ 21st anniversary are mainstream language but the it the citizens’ health and well being. publication and I would like to challenge for the future in Belfast and Working together collectively we can congratulate all those who have across Northern Ireland is to redress continue to make that positive change worked in the Belfast Healthy Cities’ the limited change in inequalities in the years ahead. partnership and in the office over in health over the past decade. this period. The influence and The evidence is clear but effective Finally I would like to express my achievements of the partnership on interventions across all sectors and sincere thanks to the many individuals policy, on ways of working and on assessing the health and health equity and organisations; past and present practice for health and well being impact of all policy is required to chairs, lead politicians and staff of across the city and regionally has make the desired change. Belfast Healthy Cities who have been substantial. worked in the city to accomplish so Eastern Health & Social Services much, aspiring to the ultimate goal of In the late 1980’s Belfast was looking Board and Belfast City Council have achieving a healthy city. to find new approaches to address been the lead partners for Belfast inequalities in health in the city - the Healthy Cities partnership over concept of ‘a healthy city’ was being the past 21 years – the new Public Councillor Naomi Long generated within WHO Europe and Health Agency and the proposed Lord Mayor the opportunity arose for Belfast joint arrangements for health in the to become a member of the WHO city between Belfast City Council Healthy Cities Network . We are and the Public Health Agency create proud to have been a member of this and strengthen the opportunity to innovative and dynamic movement invigorate the importance of tackling 5 Phase I (1988-1992): Catalyst for change The first partnership in the city Systematic community engagement Belfast Healthy Cities, established Community participation in in 1988, was the first strategic decision making has always been partnership in the city. Belfast also a cornerstone of Belfast Healthy joined the WHO European Healthy Cities’ work. In Phase I (1988-1992), Cities Network that year, among annual community participation days the initial 15 cities to be formally were held to enable local people and designated as WHO Healthy Cities. organizations to identify their own 1. health needs, which could in turn Healthy Cities introduced an entirely inform the partnership’s Action Plan. new approach to addressing health In this way the partnership was also inequalities within the city, and able to work with local communities the Healthy Cities partnership was and support participation by all created as a formal structure to residents. In Phase I, two of the support this. Its appeal was its focus issues raised at community on health being the responsibility of all participation days were traffic sectors, which was considered key to calming and home safety. addressing the social determinants of health and inequalities in health. In 1989, a co-ordinator was appointed 2. by EHSSB, with project funding from Belfast City Council. 1. Published in 1990, Belfast – a Healthy City? provided an outline of the By 2009, the WHO European Healthy new intersectoral approach to health. Cities Network has extended to a membership of over 80 cities. The 2/3. Community engagement was a application to be a WHO European major focus of Phase I. Healthy City is made at the highest political level in the city. 3. 6 Celebrating 21years Phase I (1988-1992): Catalyst