Ladies of Ballyclare Golf Club teed up an impressive £2,205.06 for AMH to help educate school children about the importance of positive wellbeing and looking after their mental health.

Commenting on the year-long fundraising effort, Lady’s Captain of Ballyclare Golf Club, Christine Bartley said:

“I am delighted and humbled by the huge amount of generosity, support and effort our members have put into raising awareness of mental health here in Northern Ireland and reducing the stigma surrounding it. We selected AMH as our charity of the year as they campaign on behalf of those people affected by mental ill health and are leading the way in regards to educating the general public and local politicians about it. People who are affected by mental ill health should never feel alone, ashamed or abandoned as a result of their condition. That’s why it is so important that we work together as a community to support those going through it by listening to their needs and sympathising with them – just as we would for anyone with a physical condition.”

Research has shown that one in four adults in Northern Ireland will show signs of mental ill health, with the prevalence of it here being 25% higher than in England.

Christine Bartley continued:

 “I would like to extend a huge thank you all of our members for helping us achieve such a fantastic fundraising total and showing their avid support every step of the way.”

 The funds raised by Ballyclare Golf Club, including an individual donation of £1,000 from Christine’s work; Emerald Music, will go towards Action Mental Health’s Healthy Me project which promotes social and emotional wellbeing in children through prevention and self-help.

Events and Fundraising Officer of AMH, Callum Clark said:

 “Now more than ever young people are increasingly susceptible to mental ill health as a result of mounting societal pressures. We are therefore hugely grateful to Ballyclare Golf Club for helping us to equip the youngest members of our society with the knowledge needed to nurture their mental and emotional wellbeing that our Healthy Me programme provides.  We cannot thank the members of Ballyclare Golf Club enough for donating their time and money to Action Mental Health over the course of the last year and to Christine for choosing us as their charity.”

“On the Rip” is a unique art project funded by PHA through the Clear project, it uses a car art medium to tackle the local lad/ ladette culture of young people going out at weekends “on the rip” The project challenges attitudes to drug and alcohol use, drink driving and road safety.

St Patrick who will sail up the Erne in a currach, arriving at Enniskillens St Patricks day parade on Thursday was one of the first to visit Fermanagh New Horizons “On the Rip” art exhibition this morning.

“Don’t Look Back “ is a mixed media art installation created by the young people on our BOOST programme.

Using a car art medium, the art piece captures the fun and happiness of positive emotional well- being, with the front of the car emblazoned with positive imagery, from which a lifesize sculpture of a dancing young man and woman emerge. In stark contrast , the back of the car conveys all the negativity of poor metal health  and captures the haunted, tormented experience associated with it. A 3d art piece behind the car, with snakes and demons and tormentors completes the art installation, and aptly illustrating why our young people are advising that you  “ Don’t Look Back”