Training & Events
Community Health and Wellbeing

Helping Communities Help Themselves

The CDRCN Health Development Team works across the Ards Peninsula and legacy Down District Council area, with the aim of reducing health inequalities and improving the health and wellbeing of individuals through collective action.

  • We support community organisations to identify health needs within their areas and implement programmes of support that address social isolation, loneliness, poor mental and physical health.
  • Working within the PHA 5 Steps to Wellbeing Framework – Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give, we deliver health and wellbeing programmes to individuals and groups.
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Through providing a range of programmes and services, CDRCN works with groups and individuals to ‘help communities to help themselves’:

• Capacity Building
• Physical Health and Wellbeing
• Awareness and Support for Mental Health
• Support for Older Peoples’ Groups
• Working to Address Poverty

Capacity Building

County Down Rural Community Network supports community groups helping to identify needs and priorities to feed into local action plans. This includes building skills and confidence to enable individuals and communities to participate in health-related activities.

Physical Health and Wellbeing Programmes

County Down Rural Community Network offers programmes and workshops to individuals and groups such as Better Days Pain Management, Smoking Cessation, Nutrition, Walking, Gardening, Wellbeing and Physical Activities.

Awareness and Support for Mental Health
County Down Rural Community Network facilitates and provides support to communities to tackle poor mental health. As part of this work, we participate in and facilitate Suicide Prevention Task Groups to increase awareness and reduce the stigma associated with poor mental health.
Support for Older Peoples’ Groups
County Down Rural Community Network supports a network of older people’s groups across Rural Ards and the legacy Down District Council area, providing information, practical support, activities and advice. This includes providing opportunities for networking and partnership work between groups and other community and statutory stakeholders.  Our work with older people aims to build skills and reduce loneliness and social isolation.
Working to Address Poverty

County Down Rural Community Network partners with stakeholder organisations to help identify individuals in need, as well as vulnerable groups such as newcomer communities at risk of poverty and isolation.

Our work includes support and referrals to foodbanks, holiday hunger schemes, distribution of food, toy hampers and warm packs.

Become a Member of CDRCN
Membership of County Down Rural Community Network is FREE and open to all community-based organisations in the Council areas of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, and Ards and North Down Borough Council.
Become a Member