We are working on the idea of developing a health and wellbeing hub that will run synergistically with the other Common Ground activities. The project aims to serve the whole community, in particular: troubled individuals and families; the elderly; people in recovery from drug and alcohol abuse; individuals suffering with anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress and suicidal tendencies; home and professional carers, and those feeling isolated. The hub will provide basic health and well-being services in an innovative way to the East Erne area including the wards of Brookeborough, Roslea/Rosslea, Donagh and Fivemiletown. It can also reach out to people, and work in partnership with, agencies in Lisnaskea, Enniskillen and Omagh. The area has been classed demographically as deprived in provision of healthcare services in particular social care and mental health.

Proposed services to be delivered from the community hub.

The proposed services are: daycare for people with special needs/ learning difficulties using the care-farm model; elderly daycare; daytime/overnight respite and individual/group support for home carers; a programme for professional health and social care workers to prevent burnout; a farm play group facility & holiday activities for families; lunch club for marginalized, socially excluded and isolated people. There will be a range of innovative groups/activities to choose from: horticulture therapy; gardening for health; a good relations community garden; indoor and outdoor talking therapies; rural arts/crafts for mental wellbeing and good relations; healthy cooking including a seed to plate programme; farm and environmental activities for mental wellbeing and good relations; clinical space for a range of allopathic and complementary health care practitioners; a men’s shed. Daytime hospitality and a program of evening social activities including storytelling, music, and pop-up café/cinema events are planned to address rural isolation and promote good relations. The project includes the restoration of an old country shop which was once a vital social aspect of life in the area – it will once more become a place where people come to meet with others and help regenerate the rural community.