Mar 18
0

Into Film creates homeschool survival kit

By | Charities, Creative Industries, Film, Gaming, Newsroom

Education charity Into Film has created a new homeschooling survival package to help beleaguered families in Northern Ireland get to the end of the current lockdown.

Hundreds of parents, teachers and pupils across Northern Ireland have been enjoying Into Film’s suite of free activities. Now the organisation is expanding its offering.

“It’s been a real marathon for families, but we are on the home stretch hopefully. We have put together a mix of film-based activities that can support learning in areas such as literacy, ICT, personal development as well as maths and arts. Our aim is to support parents and teachers through activities that the young people will love,” explained Sean Kelly, Project Delivery Manager, Into Film NI.

Belfast mum Jackie Magee said the resources from Into Film have been a great help for homeschooling her P6 son Rudi.

“Lockdown has been so incredibly stressful. When we tried some of the activities from Into Film it gave us a real lift. Here was something he could do that was educational, tied into the curriculum but it was fun. I thought that was really good as it engages children in a totally different way.”

Into Film, a UK-wide charity with a base in Northern Ireland, has three different packages available to parents and teachers: a Home-Learning During COVID Resource, the Film Buff Challenge and ScreenWorks Online.

The Into Film site has a huge range of free, fun activities that young people can complete independently. Go to www.intofilm.org/theme/96 to find the full range.

The Film Buff Challenge provides resources that teachers can use both online and in the classroom.  Taking part in the challenge includes a visit from an Into Film team member to your virtual classroom to explain the challenge, screen a short film and get the children started on an activity using the digital workbook provided.

Donegall Road Primary’s P5 class took part in their first Into Film Zoom session last week. Teacher Julie Annette said: “The children really enjoyed the Zoom lesson, particularly as they are working from home at present and feel very removed from the classroom setting and their classmates and teachers. I hope it will promote their talking and listening skills.”

The Film Buff Challenge is suitable for seven to 14-year-olds and is designed to support all levels and styles of learning. The Challenge runs until the end of summer term and is open to all schools in Northern Ireland. Find out more at www.intofilm.org/filmbuff.

Finally, ScreenWorks online is a programme for secondary school pupils to learn about screen industry careers. With a mix of digital classroom learning and videos about work in the sector from some of Northern Ireland’s leading professionals. To find out more go to www.intofilm.org/screenworksonline.

–       ENDS

Oct 26
0

Online breast cancer awareness programme launched to help save lives

By | General, News, Newsroom

A vital programme aimed at raising awareness of the importance of breast screening is now available online.

The Women’s Resource and Development Agency’s (WRDA) ground-breaking awareness programme was originally developed to help tackle inequalities in the uptake of breast cancer screening – as women living in deprived circumstances are less likely to attend.

The programme aims to raise awareness, explore and address fears surrounding breast screening and encourage participants to attend. The work is funded by the Public Health Agency.

With Covid-19 ruling out the usual face to face awareness raising sessions, the WRDA Training and Development Team has created integrated online awareness programmes, including webinars, Zoom group sessions and a series of animated storyboards, so this vital work can continue.

WRDA Director Anne McVicker said: “The online programme spreads the message of the importance of screening in finding breast cancers early and in potentially saving lives. It also covers breast cancer symptoms and advises anyone with those symptoms to contact their GP as soon as possible even during the pandemic. It is essential that we get these key messages out widely now.”

The Northern Ireland Breast Screening Programme uses mammograms (a type of x-ray) to help find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat. Although routine breast cancer screening was paused for several months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it restarted again in July 2020.

Dr Adrian Mairs from the Public Health Agency said: “The WRDA online resources are an excellent way of sharing important information about breast care and reminding women who notice changes in their breasts to contact their GP as soon as possible. Screening remains the best way we have of detecting breast cancer at an early stage when treatment can be more effective.”

Feedback from the WRDA programme indicates that women are much more likely to attend for screening after participating in the programme. A survey of participants who took part in the face to face sessions before the pandemic, showed that 98% intend to regularly check their breasts, while 99% reported they would attend for breast screening when next invited by the Breast Screening Programme.

The WRDA is currently taking bookings for group sessions delivered on Zoom and the three webinars are also available on the WRDA website: https://wrda.net/breast-cervical-and-bowel-screening-awareness-programme/

Oct 26
0

Chartered marketers take on digital challenges heightened by pandemic.

By | Business, General, News

Four Northern Ireland business women are among the first 100 professionals in the world to become accredited advisors in a globally recognised marketing model that will help businesses plan a recovery from the devastating economic impact of the pandemic.

As SOSTAC® Certified Planners, marketing strategy experts Lydia McClelland, Denise Hamill, Christine Watson and licensed tutor Debbie Rymer are actively working with companies to improve their digital presence to survive in a world at battle with the devastating impact of the Covid-19 virus.

“Digital marketing skills have never been more important than they are in the midst of the ongoing pandemic, which has seen seismic shifts in both buying habits and use of technology for communication and business transactions,” said Debbie Rymer of SAND Marketing.

Organisations need to make drastic changes to their marketing strategy to adjust to the huge changes in digital communications. There is a massive digital skills gap in businesses, which is reported to be costing the UK economy an estimated £4.4 billion per year.

“Companies that invest to train their staff in the latest technologies will be best placed to adapt and flourish in the new economic reality,” explained Lydia McClelland of LMC Associates.

Voted in the top three business models worldwide by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), SOSTAC® Certified Planners are equipped with the skills and knowledge required to help organisations develop and implement highly effective marketing strategies that align with overall business strategy.

“The global pandemic has prioritised digital communications but going forward, organisations need to invest in digital transformation strategies to tackle this skills gap and ensure sustainability in uncertain times. Utilising SOSTAC® methodology for strategy development will help businesses develop a much clearer strategic approach,” said Denise Hamill of Digital Den Marketing.

By putting strategy before tactical delivery, organisations are more likely to achieve optimal results, and ensure sustainability in competitive landscapes.

 “The impact of technology and ongoing transformation in the global economy make it essential for marketers at all levels to continually upskill throughout their careers to meet the standards outlined by the industry governing body of the marketing profession, CIM and to proactively ensure that all steps possible are taken to add significant value to the organisations and consumers they serve. SOSTAC is a robust framework that helps assure all stakeholders that marketing investments move beyond panic fire-fighting to align with the changing opportunities that exist in the marketplace and deliver positive return,” added Christine Watson of Watson & Co Chartered Marketing.

For more information, go to www.sand-marketing.co.uk/sostac/

Oct 26
0

Urgent call for reform of Maternity provision Covid restrictions

By | News, Newsroom

New mothers are suffering needless trauma and anxiety due to Covid-19 restrictions during pregnancy and birth, according to a campaign group trying to reform strict Department of Health rules.

The Mothers Matter #marchformaternity Campaign group is urgently calling for Health Minister Robin Swann to reconsider the safety rules governing the involvement of birthing partners at antenatal appointments, labour and birth and on postnatal wards.

They have organised a series of online action days culminating on Friday 23rd October at 1pm with a discussion between birth workers and political representatives to find practical ways to improve restrictions on maternity services.

The campaign was started by Claire Hackett, Emma Fraser and Leslie Altic, all birth workers who support women and their partners through pregnancy and birth.

“The current rules force women to attend some appointments on their own and also mean that the birth partner can only come into the delivery suite once the woman is in labour. This is causing additional anxiety during an already stressful time,” Claire Hackett said.

They are holding a series of online action days in a bid to change current restrictions, which have forced many mums to go through parts of the birthing process alone.

“For months we have watched the way parents were being treated in the name of Covid-19 prevention and it’s simply heart breaking. We felt we had to speak out, we couldn’t sit by and let this continue to happen when there are simple alternative solutions that would save the NHS money in the long run,” Claire said.

One mum-to-be Colleen Tunney spoke during the first action day, explaining that the restrictions were causing additional stress for parents. She is now 27 weeks pregnant but having had a previous stillbirth, every antenatal appointment is a time of worry and she says she would feel more supported if her husband was there.

“Anyone who has lost a baby will know the worry you have that you’ll hear bad news when you go to an appointment. The anxiety builds up and you just need your partner there with you,” she said.

The Mothers Matter #marchformaternity Campaign is calling for health reforms that take into consideration the following:

  • Partners are not ‘visitors’ and the woman and her birth partner should be treated as a unit, where the partner can attend all appointments, labour and birth and on the postnatal ward.
  • Pregnancy is not an illness and maternity care has specific considerations that current punitive restrictions fail to take into account.

“We understand the need to keep women, their babies and staff safe during the pandemic. But having a baby is a vulnerable time for parents and women need their birth partner, who is often the other parent to the baby and someone they know and trust, with them for physical and emotional comfort and supportWe feel that this is a human rights issue as their birth choices are being stripped away,” said organiser Leslie Altic.

In addition, the three women say that a lack of support can have a knock-on effect on physical and mental health issues.

“The physiological and mental health impact of restrictions, through increased rates of intervention, increased rates of perinatal mental health issues, and birth trauma can have a financial impact on our already stretched health services,” Emma Fraser added.

Their series of actions kicked off on Sunday the 18th of October with an online discussion by parents who have experienced pregnancy and birth during the pandemic.

This was followed on Tuesday 20th October at 8pm with a discussion on the impact of the restrictions beyond birth, looking at birth trauma and mental health.

Finally on Friday 23rd October at 1pm they will be joined by birth workers and political representatives to look at what practical considerations need to be taken into account when looking at restrictions on maternity services and why they are important.

For more information go to https://www.facebook.com/mothersmatterni/

-ends