The Granite Challenge Road Race is back on Sunday 14th October 2012, starting at 10am from AMH New Horizons Downpatrick – Ballydugan Road. Peaking at Spelga Dam the 60 mile round trip is sure to test all cyclists! For more information contact our Fundraising Manager Gavin [email protected].
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The Queen’s Jubilee Visit
- The Queen arrives at the South West Hospital Enniskillen
Pauline Flanagan, Client Development Co-ordinator, from AMH New Horizons in Fermanagh, was invited to the opening of the new South West Acute Hospital on Tuesday and was delighted to be introduced to the Queen, and receive a royal hand shake!
Pauline was part of the Community Liason Forum which acted in an advisory capacity to the hospital’s design team.
On Wednesday some of our clients from AMH New Horizons in Newtownards joined the thousands of people at Stormont, for the Queen’s Jubilee Garden Party and were able to present the Queen with some flowers.
More photos are on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.454142357938551.108277.189840137702109&type=1&l=ce020016ee
AMH Works is Launched at Stormont
AMH WORKS – HELPING EMPLOYERS SAFEGUARD STAFF MENTAL HEALTH
Action Mental Health, launched their new consultancy and training service, AMH Works, at an event in Parliament Buildings, attended by local business people and MLAs.
Action Mental Health has been working with individuals with mental health needs for 50 years now, and providing them with the support needed in their recovery. AMH Works is a bespoke service for local employers which will help improve the productivity of their staff while safeguarding their wellbeing.
Action Mental Health Chief executive David Babington said the service is more relevant to employers now than ever,
“Looking after staff welfare is a business responsibility, and has a huge impact on productivity, sick leave and profits. Most of us spend the greater portion of our lives at work, and it should come as no surprise that it can have an enormous impact on our wellbeing. In these times of economic hardship, businesses are under pressure to stretch resources – and these strains are being passed on to staff. Every day, one worker in six will be experiencing a mental health difficulty, most commonly depression or anxiety. Mental distress is now a fact of life and it can affect anyone in any workplace.”
He continued,
“It makes good business sense to protect and promote the mental health of your employees. However, a wealth of research has shown that many employers aren’t even aware of the extent of the problem. Workplace mental health remains the elephant in the room – staff can’t disclose to their employers for fear of the consequences, employers don’t acknowledge the scale of the issue and all the while poor mental health and wellbeing are costing the Northern Ireland Economy over £790 million every year.”
AMH Works could be the first step in creating an open, supportive environment where employees can speak up about their stress and mental health problems.
Sponsors of the breakfast event were MLAs; Mickey Brady, Conall McDevitt, and Jim Wells. Speaking at the event was Gary Kane from AMH Works; Stephen Smyth, Servis Air; Newry Businessman, Peter Fitzsimmons and Jayne Forster from CIPD.
For more information about AMH Works please click this link https://www.amh.org.uk/employer-consultancy/
More photos from the event can be found on our facebook page:
AMH – Highly Commended WEA 2012
Companies representing sectors from pizzas to packaging, architecture to insurance, power to post, were lauded on Thursday night at the sixth annual Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards in the spectacular Titanic Belfast.
Allstate Northern Ireland – which a year ago was the inaugural ‘Champion’ – was the night’s only multiple winner, clinching victory in two of the 18 categories. While a handful of past victors made it back on to the podium, such as ourselves, the gala night was as much about celebrating a clutch of new winners.
They included west Belfast-based Delta Print & Packaging which claimed the Right Place to Work prize for medium-sized organisations. Ulster GAA took the Workplace Excellence Award (which was won by AMH last Year) while Copeland Ltd in Co Tyrone was named Best Place to Work. Among the other first-time winners were Royal Mail, First Derivatives, Stage Crew and Nitec Solutions. Among the new awards was Disability Best Practice Employer and the judges named joint winners here, with Belfast City Council and Todds Leap unable to be separated.
Little Wing Pizzeria fended off a number of rivals to win the Managing Talent category for small businesses. AMH were Highly Commended in the category Work Life & Wellbeing.
“It’s been a record year not only for the numbers entering but for the range of sectors represented and we’re delighted that this year’s Workplace & Employment Awards are yet another runaway success,” Irish News editor Noel Doran said.
Employment and learning minister Dr Stephen Farry, who was a top-table guest at last night’s function, told the 450-plus audience:
“The aims of the Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards go hand in hand with the direction set out in my Department’s Skills Strategy for Northern Ireland, and I’m delighted to be continuing our long association with this initiative.”
Nick Hewer, who is Lord Sugar’s right-hand man on The Apprentice and who also hosts Countdown each day on Channel 4, was the after-dinner speaker and regaled guests with a captivating and humour-laced insight into the business world of Sir Alan Sugar. The Event, hosted by award- winning BBC journalist Karen Patterson, saw 18 main awards being presented alongside commendations.
The awards were supported by six key business partners in Tughans, Liberty IT, Tesco, PwC, Kingsbridge Private Hospital and Investors in People, and were endorsed by key industry bodies the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD).
Winners 2012
Recruitment Team Of The Year
Winner Bond Search and Selection
Recruitment Innovator Of The Year
Winner Webrecruit Ireland
Best Agency To Do Business With
Highly Commended Driver Hire Belfast
Winner Stage Crew
Work Life And Well Being – Small/Medium Organisation
Highly Commended Action Mental Health
Winner GE Energy
Work Life And Well Being – Large Organisation
Highly Commended ALMAC
Winner Allstate Northern Ireland
Workplace Excellence
Highly Commended Assumption Grammar School
Winner Ulster GAA
Best Place To Work – Small Organisation
Highly Commended People 1st
Winner Todd Architects
Best Place To Work – Medium Organisation
Highly Commended FPM Accountants LLP
Winner Copeland Ltd
Best Place To Work – Large Organisation
Winner Royal Mail
Disability Best Practice Employer
Winner Belfast City Council
Winner Todds Leap
Right Place To Work – Small Organisation
Highly Commended Aurion Learning
Winner Nitec Solutions Ltd
Right Place To Work – Medium Organisation
Winner Delta Print and Packaging
Right Place To Work – Large Organisation
Highly Commended Lloyds Banking Group
Winner Allstate Northern Ireland
Managing Talent – Small Organisation
Highly Commended Young Enterprise Northern Ireland
Winner Little Wing Pizzeria
Managing Talent – Medium Organisation
Highly Commended Autoline Insurance Group
Winner Musgrave Retail Partners
Managing Talent – Large Organisation
Highly Commended Care Circle Group
Winner First Derivatives PLC
Innovative Employer – Small Organisation
Highly Commended Todd Architects
Winner Manor Architects
Innovative Employer – Medium/Large Organisation
Highly Commended Firstsource Solutions
Winner Autoline Insurance Group
Recognising AMH Volunteers
Downpatrick was the birthplace of Action Mental Health, almost 50 years ago. Founded in 1963, Action Mental Health aims to enhance the quality of life and the employability of people with mental health needs or a learning disability inNorthern Ireland.
A special volunteer recognition event was held for clients at AMH New Horizons Downpatrick, to celebtrate Volunteering Week. Special guest was Chair of the Social Development Committee, Alex Maskey MLA.
The event was held to raise awareness of the benefits of volunteering to individuals and the host organisations. A total of 32 clients received certificates from Alex Maskey, to acknowledge the commitment they have shown to volunteering and the immense benefits they have received by participating in the scheme. Representatives from 21 host organisations also received certificates in recognition of their valued support to volunteering and a small gesture of thanks from AMH.
More photos can be found on the AMH Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.451968064822647.107901.189840137702109&type=1&l=e00f95ca90
Jim Wells MLA opens AMH Garden Centre
- Jim Wells MLA and Nora Craig
- Adrian Jackson and his self-made “Shovel Cockerel”
- Paulette Thomson (Horticulture Skills Instructor AMH)
Downpatrick was the birthplace of Action Mental Health, almost 50 years ago. Founded in 1963, Action Mental Health aims to enhance the quality of life and the employability of people with mental health needs or a learning disability in Northern Ireland.
The Garden Centre in Downpatrick, moved down to its present site from the Downshire Hospital 17 years ago. This opening follows the first re-development of the centre since then, at a cost of £45k. AMH raised the funds, with additional support from the Garfield Weston Foundation and the John Acheson Foundation.
The Garden Centre is a commercial venture, open to the public and run by the clients, who are also studying for NVQ level 1 & 2 in horticulture. They grow and sell a range of summer bedding plants, bushes and shrubs, hanging baskets and window boxes. They also grow vegetables for use in the unit canteen. The centre provides the clients with the opportunity to gain employability skills – a chance to work as part of a team, improved confidence, retail experience, and an opportunity to engage with the general public.
Jim Wells MLA was treated to a tour of the garden centre, and had a chance to chat to the staff and clients who work there. After officially opening the centre, he joined guests for tea in the sunshine.
All the photos can be found on our facebook page
The John Wilson Memorial Trust ..
- Nick Coburn, John Wilson, Colin Loughran AMH, Roisin Tallon AMH, David Acheson, Richard Wilson
.. Pledges Money to Action Mental Health.
The John Wilson Memorial Trust was set up by Ulster Carpets in memory of John Wilson, one of the sons of GW Wilson the founder of Ulster Carpets, following his passing in 2009. The Trust fund is managed by appointed Trustees involved in Ulster Carpets, including two of John Wilson’s sons.
Like his father, John always had an enduring passion for the business; particularly the long held establishment of significant employment in Portadown in keeping with the company’s place in the community.
The trust fund actively seeks opportunities to support local organisations, particularly those working in the areas of mental health and depression. We were delighted that the trust recently pledged funding to AMH. The funding will be used to help support 2 of our projects in the Portadown area; AMH New Horizons and AMH MensSana.
Colin Loughran, AMH Service Manager commented,
“Everyone in AMH would like to thank Ulster Carpets and the Trustees of the John Wilson Memorial Trust for their kind generousity and support of our work. The funding will be used to resource our training suite at Tannaghmore Gardens on the outskirts of Lurgan with modern IT equipment and enable essential poly tunnel repairs to be carried out in addition to refurbishment of the glass house ventilation system. The trust has also pledged significant funding to AMH MensSana which will secure a full time staff post for the next two years and enable planned and necessary work to continue.”
Taking Action on Mental Health
- Basil McRea MLA and Suzanne Cromie of Zenbu Massage & Yoga
During Mental Health Awareness Week, Action Mental Health visited Parliament Buildings to give mental health advice to MLAs and staff. The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission recently nominated AMH as its first ever Charity of the Year, and it was important to make people aware of the dangers of stress, which can trigger more serious mental health problems, and introduce massage as an example of a “stress buster”.
Too much stress can result in a range of health problems including headaches, stomach upsets, high blood pressure and even stroke or heart disease. It can also cause feelings of distrust, anger, anxiety and fear, which in turn can destroy relationships at home and at work.
Gerry Kelly MLA
People often feel over-stressed as a result of some event or trigger. This doesn’t have to be negative; such as the death of a loved one or divorce, it can also be seemingly positive; a new partner, new job or going on holiday. Such feelings can also be acute; as the result of bereavement, or chronic; being in a bad relationship.
Massage is a good example of a Stress Buster, much more than just a pampering experience, it is a body healing and emotional stress-relieving tool. A massage lowers a person’s heart rate and reduces blood pressure giving you a sense that stress is melting away. Massages reduce pain by reducing muscle tension and stimulating blood flow and increasing oxygen supplies to the blood stream. This reduction of pain helps to relieve stress.
This is the first of many mental health awareness activities planned with the NI Assembly over the next year.
Many thanks to therapists Suzanne Cromie from Zenbu Massage & Yoga and Jason Gonzalez from Kairos.
