Men’s Health Forum in Ireland
Annual Report 2011
Men’s Health Forum in Ireland - Annual Report 2011
Chairperson’s Address
2011 was a highly successful year for the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) and, once again, saw the Forum expand into many new areas of work. Much of this expansion was due to the fact that - for the first time - MHFI had the services of a (temporary) Director of Operations.
The Forum continued to support the implementation of the National Men’s Health Policy in the Republic of Ireland by participation in the National Implementation Planning Group, and delivery on a number of recommendations from the Policy. However, during 2011, MHFI also made calls on the Northern Ireland Assembly to consider the introduction of a similar policy for their jurisdiction.
This Annual Report (especially Section 9) shows that a lot of outputs were achieved - despite the constraints of very limited resources and a small budget. This success was heavily reliant upon the input of volunteers, the good will of organisations, offers of ‘in-kind’ and mutual support, and the creativity of contributors. We believe, therefore, that during 2011, MHFI was able to offer excellent value for money.
Work this year ranged from ‘core business’ (such as celebrating Men’s Health Week) to a new initiative focusing upon Young Men and Suicide. There was, of course, also everything in between: courses / workshops / events under the auspices of Man Matters; development of training materials on men’s health; input to the introduction of the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme in Northern Ireland; support for workplace based men’s health initiatives in An Post and Eircom; participation in a ‘Four Nations’ study into men and obesity; engagement with the European Men’s Health Forum ... All of this work was, however, characterised by the establishment of strong working partnerships and stakeholder involvement.
MHFI is very grateful for the financial support that was received in 2011 from the Health Service Executive, GlaxoSmithKline, National Office for Suicide Prevention and Public Health Agency. This support enabled the Forum to undertake the diversity of work outlined in this report.
We look forward to another productive year for men's health in 2012.
Dr Noel Richardson
Chairperson MHFI1. The Men’s Health Forum in Ireland
1.1 Overview
The Men's Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) is a diverse network of individuals and organisations, men and women, from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Forum was established in 1999, and operates on an all-island basis. It is, primarily, structured, organised and run using the expertise, resources and enthusiasm of volunteers. However, during 2011, MHFI commissioned (for the first time) a temporary full-time worker (on a consultancy basis) to help it to achieve its aims and objectives.
The Forum seeks to promote all aspects of the health and well being of men and boys on the island of Ireland through research, training, networking, health initiatives and advocacy. It is managed by a Board of Trustees.
Given its limited resources, much of the ongoing work of MHFI is conducted online (see www.mhfi.org for more details). Anyone - individual or organisation - who can agree with the mission, value base, and aims of MHFI can ask to be included on the Forum's mailing list to receive the monthly electronic newsletter (‘E-Male Matters’), as well as other updates, briefings, announcements and invitations in the field of work with men and boys.
1.2 Aims and Objectives of MHFI
MHFI seeks to promote and enhance all aspects of the health and well-being of males on the island of Ireland.
The principal objectives of the Forum are:
§ The advancement of the education of the population in Ireland in all aspects of the health and well-being of men and boys and, in particular, but not exclusively, by providing information, commissioning and disseminating research, offering training programmes, piloting practical health initiatives, facilitating networks, and promoting debate on key issues with policy makers, service providers and the general public.
§ The preservation and protection of men's health.
1.3 MHFI’s Value Base
MHFI works on an all-island basis to enhance the health and well-being of men and boys. The Forum recognises the right of everyone to good health regardless of age, sex, disability, race, sexual orientation, marital status, domestic circumstances, religious or political affiliations.
MHFI believes that all men and boys have the right to:
§ The best possible health.
§ Gender-specific information and education on how to keep themselves healthy.
§ Equity of access to available, affordable and gender-sensitive services.
§ Have their issues recognised and properly addressed - in a way that is not at the expense of women's or children's health, but seen as beneficial to society as a whole.
§ Call for greater emphasis on a partnership approach in developing future strategies and initiatives on men's health. This includes consultation between policy-makers, healthcare providers, statutory and voluntary groups working on behalf of men, employers, and men themselves.
2. Legal Status of MHFI
During most of 2011, the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) was registered in both Northern Ireland (NI054325) and the Republic of Ireland (491368) as a Company Limited by Guarantee, and was accepted as a charity by both HM Revenue and Customs (Reference Number: XR83376) and the Revenue (Reference Number: CHY19591).
However, on Monday 25th July 2011, MHFI filed Form DS01 with ‘Companies House’ to strike off MHFI as a Company Limited by Guarantee in Northern Ireland. The notice to dissolve the Company was posted (by Companies House) in ‘The Belfast Gazette’ on Friday 12th August 2011, and the Northern Ireland Company was officially dissolved on Friday 2nd December 2011.
3. Registered Company Address
During 2011, the Registered Company Addresses for the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) were:
Northern Ireland - Men's Action Network (MAN), 40 Carlisle Road, Derry / Londonderry, BT48 6JW (as MAN moved premises in early 2011, this address replaced their previous one at 2 Dacre Terrace, Derry / Londonderry, BT48 6JU)
Republic of Ireland - Centre for Men's Health, Institute of Technology Carlow, Kilkenny Road, Carlow
From the outset, MHFI has considered its current Republic of Ireland address as an interim measure. Therefore, throughout 2011, the Forum engaged in discussions with the Healthy Living Centre in Dublin City University about using their premises as the Forum’s Registered Company Office in the longer-term. These discussions have been positive to date, and MHFI hopes that this agreement might be finalised in early 2012.
4. Management Committee
During 2011, the following people served as part of the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland’s (MHFI) Management Committee:
OFFICE BEARERS:
Noel Richardson (Chairperson / Trustee), Director of Men’s Health Research and Training, Centre for Men’s Health Research, Institute of Technology, Carlow, Tel: 059 9175539, Email:
Michael Lynch (Vice-Chairperson / Trustee), Director of Services and Development, Men's Action Network, 40 Carlisle Road, Derry / Londonderry, BT48 6JW, Tel: 02871 377777, Email:
Paula Carroll (Company Secretary / Trustee), Lecturer and Men’s Health Researcher, Centre for Health Behaviour Research, Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Science, Waterford Institute of Technology, Cork Road, Waterford, Tel: 087 2447005, Email:
Finian Murray (Treasurer / Trustee), Men’s Health Development Officer, Health Service Executive Dublin / North East, Dublin Road, Kells, Co. Meath, Tel: 046 9280644, Email:
OTHER TRUSTEES AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Lorcan Brennan (Committee Member), Men's Health Coordinator, Men's Development Network, 30 O'Connell Street, Waterford, Co. Waterford, Tel: 051 844260, Email:
Nicholas Clarke (Committee Member), Assistant Researcher, Centre for Men’s Health Research, Institute of Technology, Carlow, Tel: 087 2735068, Email:
Paul Gillen (Committee Member), Men’s Health Promotion Officer, Health Service Executive West, West City Centre, Seamus Quirke Road, Galway City, Tel: 091 548323, Email:
Sandra Gordon (Committee Member), Project Coordinator, Health and Mind Matters, Ulster Cancer Foundation, 40-44 Eglantine Avenue, Belfast BT9 6DX, Tel: 0797 7501908, Email:
Maria Lohan (Committee Member), Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery Research Unit, Queen's University Belfast, 10 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 5BN, Tel: 02890 976555, Email:
Gerry McElwee (Trustee - Northern Ireland), Head of Cancer Prevention, Ulster Cancer Foundation, 40-44 Eglantine Avenue, Belfast BT9 6DX, Tel: 02890 663281, Email:
Michael McKeon (Trustee - Republic of Ireland), Nursing Lecturer, Room H259, School of Nursing, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Tel: 01 7008539, Email:
Owen Metcalfe (Trustee), Director, Institute of Public of Health in Ireland, 5th Floor, Bishop's Square, Redmond's Hill, Dublin 2, Tel: 01 4786300, Email:
Mary Sheehan (Trustee), Health Care Manager, Marian House Nursing Home, Holy Ghost Fathers, Kimmage Manor, Whitehall Road, Dublin 12, Tel: 086 8059729, Email:
5. Director of Operations Position
During 2011, the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) engaged a temporary self-employed consultant (full-time hours from January - December 2011) as a ‘Director of Operations’. This role was, primarily, underwritten by a grant from GlaxoSmithKline, and this donation was topped-up by management fees from other MHFI project work. Following a period of tendering during December 2010, this position was offered to Colin Fowler, from ‘Know How’ in Belfast.
The Director of Operations was asked to undertake a broad range of roles on behalf of MHFI including: executive officer, administrator, training coordinator, communications officer, webmaster, policy worker, report writer, fundraiser, representative of MHFI at external meetings, and to be the public contact point for the Forum.
The Director was tasked with overseeing all aspects of MHFI’s work but, the main tasks related to the coordination of Men's Health Week, the Young Men and Suicide Project, and Northern Irish activity connected to the Man Matters project.
6. Management Committee Business
During 2011, the Management Committee of the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) held five full meetings:
§ Wednesday 12th January 2011
§ Wednesday 2nd March 2011
§ Monday 9th May 2011
§ Monday 5th September 2011
§ Wednesday 30th November 2011
The first four meetings were conducted via video-conferencing between the Dublin and Belfast offices of the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH). The last meeting of the year was held in the Dublin base of the Institute, and was preceded by the MHFI Annual General Meeting.
In addition to attendance at Management Committee meetings, members were also asked to volunteer to be part of Sub-Groups. During 2011, this work involved, for example, determining the Terms and Conditions of employment for the Director of Operations post, planning Men’s Health Week in Ireland, representing MHFI on the Steering Group for the Man Matters project, participating in the inter-agency Advisory Group for the Young Men and Suicide project, negotiating with staff in the Healthy Living Centre in Dublin City University, advising Eircom on their proposed ‘HealthNet’ initiative for men ...
7. Financial Matters
The bulk of the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland’s (MHFI) income during 2011 was received from:
§ GlaxoSmithKline: To part-fund the temporary post of Director of Operations - so as to develop MHFI’s work in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
§ Health Service Executive: To support National Men’s Health Week in the Republic of Ireland.
§ National Office for Suicide Prevention and the Public Health Agency: To develop a cross-Border project on Young Men and Suicide.
§ Man Matters: For the delivery of specific men’s health projects and initiatives in Northern Ireland.
§ Irish Cancer Society: To organise the Men’s Health Week 2011 Poster Competition.
§ IT Carlow: To coordinate the development of resource materials for a ‘Train the Trainers’ programme on men’s health.
As all of these pots of money were ring-fenced for a specific purpose, they are categorised as 'restricted funding'.
However, despite having relatively small financial assets, MHFI did undertake a huge amount of work during 2011, and produced a lot of outputs. This success was heavily reliant upon the input of volunteers, the good will of organisations, offers of ‘in-kind’ and mutual support, and the creativity of contributors. A brief overview of some of this work can be accessed in Section 9 of this report.
MHFI would especially like to thank the Institute of Public Health in Ireland for their ongoing practical help and support for cross-border men’s health development, and for allowing the Forum to make regular use of their meeting rooms and video-conferencing facilities in both Dublin and Belfast.
8. Communication and IT Tools
The Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) does not, at present, have a permanent office base or staff. While this is certainly a weakness, MHFI has (to some extent) compensated for this situation by creating a relatively sophisticated world of virtual communication. This takes many forms, such as, for example:
§ MHFI website (www.mhfi.org) - this regularly updated, self-managed site, has both a public facing side (for sharing information, news, resources etc. with the general public), and a private Committee Login intranet (for making key documentation available to all members of the Management Committee from any internet enabled device in the world).
§ Yahoo Email Group - offers a single email address for all Management Committee members to contact everyone else in the group, and is used for day-to-day communication and decision-making by the Committee.
§ Institute of Public Health in Ireland’s video-conferencing facility - since MHFI Committee members are drawn from across the island of Ireland, this acts as a tool to talk face-to-face without having to travel very long distances. It is regularly used for MHFI Committee meetings, as well as for Men’s Health Week Planning Group meetings.
§ Skype - has been used for teleconferencing and video-conferencing by MHFI sub-groups.
§ E-Male Matters - the MHFI monthly newsletter is produced and distributed in electronic format. The purpose of this publication is to provide an update on research, events, training, resources and news in the field of work with men and boys. At present, this reaches approximately 3,000 primary recipients (government / statutory / voluntary / community sectors) throughout Ireland. Many government departments in Northern Ireland also forward this document to their staff, and we are aware that voluntary sector network bodies also forward it to their members. See www.mhfi.org/about-e-male-matters.html for more information on this publication and to view copies of past editions.