Council Supports Men’s Health Week 2023

To mark Men’s Health Week 2023, business men from across Newry teamed up for a 5 A Side tournament in Newry City Football Grounds on Thursday 15 June.

The event was organised by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in partnership with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT) and the Public Health Agency NI (PHA). The aim was to bring men together to enjoy some light-hearted sport and encourage them to reconnect with friends and neighbours in a safe and fun environment.

Off the pitch, the men could also avail of a number of planned activities such as physical health checks that measured BMI, amongst other things with advice to visit a GP given where necessary. Cancer Focus NI provided guidance on Care in the Sun and raised awareness to the importance of Prostate Cancer Checks and the Connections Drug and Alcohol Team provided information on a range of alcohol and drug related topics. The ‘Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing initiative’ was also promoted to encourage men to continue to ‘Connect’, ‘Be Active’, ’Take Notice’, ‘Keep Learning’ and ‘Give’

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson Councillor Valerie Harte thanked everyone who participated and those who organised the event as part of Men’s Health Week saying, “It was great to see such a good turnout of men wanting to take part in a game of football. It was clear that everyone enjoyed the opportunity to have a bit of fun together and appreciated the health advice they received through the psychical health checks on offer. Through events like this, we aim to encourage men to prioritize their health and wellbeing while fostering a sense of community and camaraderie.”