Healthy Longford

Healthy Longford focuses on creating a county where everyone can enjoy good physical and mental health. It does this through supporting community actions to improve our health and wellbeing. It is part of the national Healthy Ireland government-led strategy.

Healthy Longford aims to: 

• Increase the number of people who are healthy at all stages of life
• Reduce health inequalities
• Protect the public from threats to health and wellbeing
• Create an environment where every individual and sector of society can play their part in achieving a Healthy Ireland
  
  

Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan 2021-2025

The Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan 2021-2025 provides a clear roadmap of how we can continue to work together to bring about good health, access to services, healthy environments, and the promotion of resilience and to ensure that everyone can enjoy physical and mental, health and wellbeing, to their full potential.

Healthy Ireland Fund

Under the Healthy Ireland Strategy, the Healthy Ireland Fund (HIF) supports local authorities, including Longford County Council, to deliver actions to improve health and wellbeing. These include many community-based initiatives. 

Different rounds of the HIF have been delivered in recent years. 

Round 4, the latest round of the HIF, runs from June 2022 to Wednesday, 31 December 2025. It has a more outcome-led approach.

In Longford, this outcome-led approach is informed by feedback gathered locally which showed two highest priority areas:

• High-priority area 1: Lifestyle and Behaviour Risk
  This has resulted in prioritising funding for physical activity actions. Specifically, actions funding under HIF Round 4 in Longford will aim to 'Increase in % of adults and children meeting physical activity guidelines'
• High-priority area 2: Wellbeing Factors
  This priority area has resulted in prioritising funding for mental health actions. Specifically, actions funded under HIF Round 4 in Longford will aim to 'Increase in individual’s level of positive mental health as per Energy and Vitality Index All'
  
  

Healthy Longford News

We’re Breastfeeding Longford

The We’re Breastfeeding Friendly Longford initiative launched on Monday, 7 October at Edgeworthstown Library, with over 70 attendees, including families and community representatives. Speakers highlighted the importance of normalising breastfeeding and the supports available to mothers. Creative play sessions for children were also offered by Tanya Costello.
Supported by Healthy Longford through Healthy Ireland funding, this initiative encourages businesses and community spaces to become welcoming places for breastfeeding mothers. The launch coincided with National Breastfeeding Week.

Longford Breastfeeding Project

This interagency group promotes breastfeeding and supports parents through education, awareness, and creating welcoming environments. Partners include Longford Shopping Centre, libraries, and other local organisations. Key efforts include community outreach and antenatal colostrum harvesting education.

Collaborating organisations include Longford County Council, HSE, Cuidiu, Foroige, Bridgeways Family Resource Centre and Lus Na Gréine Family Resource Centre

Community Safety & Wellbeing Expo

Held on Tuesday, 19 November 2024, in Edgeworthstown, this Expo showcased over 50 services supporting community safety and wellbeing. Organised by Sláintecare Healthy Communities, Healthy Longford, and Longford Community Safety Partnership, the event featured Dr Katriona O’Sullivan as the keynote speaker, sharing an inspiring story of resilience and practical advice for supporting others.

The Expo engaged students and the wider community, promoting mental, physical, and financial wellbeing.

Not Around Us Initiative

Led by Healthy Longford, Not Around Us aims to create smoke/vape-free environments for children and young people. It seeks to:

1. Protect young people from secondhand smoke.

2. Denormalise smoking and vaping for future generations.

3. Reduce litter and environmental damage.

4. Raise awareness of tobacco-free initiatives.

5. Promote HSE Quit services.

This initiative is a step toward a healthier, smoke-free Longford.

Period Dignity 

Healthy Longford's Period Dignity campaign provides free period products throughout County Longford, including at the following locations:

• Longford County Council buildings including our offices on Great Water Street, Camlin Court and Market Square
• All six County Longford Libraries
• Longford Women’s Link
• Bridgeways Family Resource Centre, Ballymahon
• Longford EDI (Employment Development and Information) Centre
• Longford Community Resources Clg
• Community Houses in Ardnacassa and MacEoin House
• Attic House (Foroige)
• St Vincent de Paul Longford

This initiative is aligned with a recommendation in the National Strategy for Women and Girls Committee's draft ‘Period Poverty in Ireland’ Report.  

Feedback is welcome on this initiative. Please complete the Period Dignity Support 2024 Survey. 

Email healthylongford@longfordcoco.ie if you wish for any further information.

For this initiative, Longford County Council secured €8,000 in Period Poverty-related funding from the Department of Health. This is in addition to funding received in 2022 and 2023. 

Healthy Longford newsletter

Healthy Longford newsletter alerts you to new physical and mental health initiatives in County Longford.

Sign up for the Healthy Longford newsletter.

Read the latest Healthy Longford newsletter.

If you have an event or initiative that could be included in the Healthy Longford newsletter, email healthylongford@longfordcoco.ie.

HELLO, How Are You?

The Mental Health Ireland HELLO, How Are You? campaign aims to inspire people to ask how others are feeling. It is hoped that this will open up conversations which can improve connections between people and build a sense of belonging. Should a person indicate feelings of needing mental health support, the signposting of local services is encouraged as part of these 'HELLO, How Are You?' conversations. 

As part of this campaign, two HELLO, How Are You? coffee mornings recently took place in County Longford at McEoin Community House and Ardnacassa Community House. 

Find out more about this national initiative on MentalHealthIreland.ie.

Trauma Informed Care Conference

Healthy Longford was represented at the recent Trauma Informed Care Conference organised by CYPSC (Children and Young People's Service Committees) Longford-Westmeath.

Healthy Longford was also part of the planning committee and a funder for this important conference.