Inner South Belfast Healthy Living Partnership 

Inner South Health and Wellbeing

LORAG chairs Inner South Belfast’s health and wellbeing group which includes organisations from the Market, Donegall Pass and Lower Ormeau. The goal of the health and wellbeing group is to improve health across Inner South Belfast. Over the next five years, Inner South will be working to improve health across the following areas:

• Reducing harm from alcohol and drugs and making shared spaces safer
• Building up local mental health and wellbeing support
• Supporting children, young people and families at early stages

Inner South health and wellbeing group will spend up to 2031 working to improve health across the neighbourhood.

LORAG Services

LORAG offers a wide range of services aimed at improving health of the Inner South and wider Belfast community including:

Primary Care Talking Therapies

These talking therapies counselling sessions are upon referral from a GP. If you feel you need to talk to someone, contact your GP. If you are struggling, or are worried about someone else, call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000. Talking really helps.

Talking Therapies sessions take place face to face, online or over the telephone, depending on your preference. If you have been referred to us and are unsure where to go, please contact reception on 028 9031 2377.

Older and Active (55+)

Every Thursday between 10am and 12.30pm

The Older and Active programme brings older people together to socialise and aims to improve the quality of life, health and wellbeing of older people within the local and wider community.

Older and Active offers a warm and welcoming environment that provides a safe space, with a socially inclusive programme delivering fun activities including exercise, bingo, boccia, dance, arts and crafts, and trips.

Older and Active participants are served a nutritious and tasty lunch after each session.

Come along and enjoy tea and coffee and get involved in the exercise, games and many more activities.

If you would like more information about the Older and Active programme, give the centre a call on 028 9031 2377 Ext 1 and ask for Geraldine/Charlene.

Health Projects

LORAG has a growing and responsive approach to health within our community. As the Healthy Living Centre for south Belfast, programmes delivered are based on needs identified in the community.

Current Projects

Women’s Wellness Course

Are you a mother who wants to learn more and take steps to leading an active healthy lifestyle? LORAG is hosting a women’s wellness workshop consisting of three sessions a week which includes:

• Monkey-see Monkey-do fitness: bring your kids along to a mother and children fitness class on Fridays from 10–12, where our fitness instructor will lead you through a session for one hour, followed by a group stroll along the river!
• Mother’s Mindfulness: sessions looking at mindfulness strategies for mothers and how to improve mental wellbeing.
• Air-fryer Course: a four week course where you can learn how to make fast, nutritious meals for the family using an air fryer.

Children’s Projects

Fitness 8: LORAG delivers a variety of fitness programmes for primary schools. The Fitness-8 programme includes a variety of educational activities, teaching children about healthy eating and living a healthy lifestyle.

LORAG Referrals

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

LORAG delivers a tailored programme with support from both the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and Belfast Health Development Unit for people living with COPD or experiencing other breathing difficulties. This programme will guide participants through a structured group exercise programme over the course of 12 weeks, delivered in Shaftesbury Community and Recreation Centre with Dee Street Community Centre.

To get referred onto this programme, contact your local GP or physio and ask about being referred to the pulmonary rehabilitation exercise programme.

Primary Care Talking Therapies

Shaftesbury Healthy Living Centre is a provider of the Primary Care Talking Therapies and Wellbeing Hub. The Hub aims to put prevention and early intervention at the heart of mental health and wellbeing. At Shaftesbury Healthy Living Centre, we offer psychological talking therapies six days a week – morning, afternoon and evening.

If you would like a referral, please speak to your GP and ask if they think you might be suitable. Unfortunately, we cannot accept self-referral for this project – all referrals must come via your GP.

Home Support

LORAG also provides support for families in homes across south Belfast. Whether you have newly moved in or have been in the area for a long time, you are able to access this service which can include support on home energy efficiency, signposting and referrals to additional services, or navigating the current housing system. Get in touch with us and ask for our family support team. We can accept self-referrals for this programme.

Better Days Pain Support Programme

Better Days pain support programme is a community approach to chronic pain that gets results. This award-winning pain support programme supports people to self-manage pain and live better and happier lives.

As a lead partner for Better Days Pain Support, LORAG offers an eight to ten week programme, free for people living with pain to take part in. This programme consists of:

• Sleep training
• Mindfulness and self-management strategies
• Nutrition and physical activity guidance
• Specialist talks from pharmacists and physiotherapists
• A social group to share experiences and management strategies

Come along to share your story and hear how you can better manage your pain and live a more comfortable life.

To get involved in the pain programmes, contact nmoore@lorag.org

For other Better Days Pain Support Programmes offered across the region, visit The Healthy Living Centre Alliance.