The Spectrum Centre in the Shankill Road was the venue for discussion with the delegation from Dublin on potential ways to share insights that improve public health, educational and economic outcomes for children, young people and families in communities facing challenges in Dublin and Belfast. 

Dr Jackie Redpath from the Shankill Children and Young People Zone hosted the visitors and provided the background to the child-centred work of the Shankill Zone. Marian Quinn (CEO) and Jonathon Doyle from Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) shared details on the widespread work on child development they are supporting in Tallaght and across Ireland. Annie Armstrong from the Colin Neighbourhood Partnership described the prevention and early intervention work they are conducting with families in the Poleglass and Twinbrook areas. Professor Noel McCarthy (Professor of Population Health Medicine) described the TCD Institute of Population Health participation in the Academic Primary Care Collaborative in Tallaght and Professor Jo-Hannah Ivers described her work as the first Associate Dean of Civic Engagement for Societal Impact at TCD including partnership with North East Inner City Dublin. The Queen’s Innovation Zones Directors Dr Liam O’Hare, Dr Laura Dunne and Dr Karen Galway provided some background on the Innovation Zones approach and examples of the projects they are engaging in with the Colin and Shankill communities. 

The meeting was inspirational in terms of the work already happening in local communities and stimulated much future potential in what can be achieved through community and university partnership working and research. Watch this space… 

For more information contact Dr Liam O’Hare l.ohare@qub.ac.uk