A Hobbies and Health Fair for men will take place in Banbridge Enterprise Centre, Banbridge, Co. Down, on Thursday 24th September 2015, from 6.30pm - 9.00pm.  This evening will offer light refreshments, health information stands, signposting opportunities to activities for men, and free health checks on the Cancer Focus NI 'Man Van'.  A key objective of this event will be to assess the interest of local men in the development of a ‘Men's Shed’ for the Banbridge area.  For more details, contact Wendy on Tel: 02846 20243 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Volunteer Now is currently looking for men aged 50+ who would be willing to 'buddy' with and support isolated older men for a short period of time.  The key objective is to help these men to build their confidence so that they can join with and integrate into existing men’s groups and other activities - eventually feeling able to do so on their own.  The 'Buddies' need to be able to offer 1-4 hours per week.  Full training and support will be given, and they will be able to claim volunteer expenses for travel etc.  If you're up for the challenge, contact Frank Johnston at Tel: 02890 232020 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Marie Keating Foundation is hosting a free five week cancer survivorship workshop in Cork as part of its ‘Survive and Thrive’ series.  The workshop will include advice from experts on issues that cancer survivors often face including coping with emotions, managing stress and fatigue, and changing nutritional needs.  There will also be advice on physical activity and mindfulness.  The course is open to both men and women who have survived any type of cancer.  The programme will operate every Thursday between 17th September and 15th October 2015, from 6.30pm - 8.30pm, in the Kingsley Hotel, Victoria Cross, Cork.  To register, contact Angela Egan at Tel: 01 628 3726 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The ARK Ageing Programme invites you to a seminar titled ‘Population Ageing Affects All Age Groups’.  Debates on ageing societies mainly focus on the circumstances of older people.  However, this seminar will highlight how population ageing affects everyone.  Professor Pearl Dykstra (Erasmus University Rotterdam) will discuss how demographic changes have strongly altered the social worlds of children, and are creating new opportunities for inter-generational connections.  She will also highlight how age segregation deprives the young of a proper view of mid-life and old age, and produces adults who have little understanding of the young.  Gemma Carney and Paula Devine (ARK Ageing Programme) will present findings from the 2014 Kid’s Life and Times survey - exploring children’s attitudes to age and ageing.  This seminar will take place on Thursday 17th September 2015, from 2.00pm ‑ 4.00pm, in Queen’s University Belfast.  The event is free.  However, places are limited, and must be booked in advance by emailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre is inviting applications for the post of full-time Regional Traveller Men’s Health Coordinator - funded by the Traveller Health Unit, Eastern Region.  Full details of the Job Specification for this position are available online at: www.mhfi.org/travellercoordinator.pdf  It is desirable that applicants will have a full clean driving license.  Please note that the closing date for receipt of applications has been extended to Monday 24th August 2015.  Only applications using the Pavee Point standard Job Application Form will be considered.  These can be obtained from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.at Tel: 01 8780255.

Family Mediation Northern Ireland (FMNI) is inviting applications for Stage 1 of the three step comprehensive training route to accreditation as a Family Mediator - recognised in the United Kingdom and Ireland.  This mediation focuses upon the needs of the children of separating couples, and offers an opportunity for parents to reach their own agreements during and after separation about their children, finances and living arrangements.  The first step to becoming an accredited Family Mediator is to successfully complete the Foundation Training Programme.  FMNI is approved by both The College of Mediators in the UK and The Mediators’ Institute of Ireland to deliver a programme comprised of generic mediation skills and a specialist element for working with separating couples.  The twelve day Stage 1 training programme begins in September 2015, and details can be found at: www.familymediationni.org.uk/training-careers/training

In May 2008, the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) published ‘Gender Equality Strategy: A Baseline Picture’, which provided data on a wide range of indicators on gender differences in Northern Ireland.  These indicators were selected to provide an overview of changes in the relative position of males and females across a range of policy areas, and to facilitate a review of the Gender Equality Strategy by providing a broad contextual picture and chart trends over time.  Update reports were produced in June 2011, July 2013 and August 2014.  This fifth report in the series was published in July 2015.  As with the previous reports, time series data are presented (where available) in order to give the reader a better insight into the long-term trends of the statistical indicators.  You can download a Portable Document Format (PDF) version of this report at: www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/gender-equality-stats-update-2015.pdf

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) is currently refining gender equality policy priorities and recommendations, and is seeking the views of stakeholders to help to shape and inform them.  The proposed priorities cover a number of areas including tackling gender stereotypes, education, employment, care, health, sport, gender law reform, and the necessary architecture for delivering equality.  In advance of a bigger, more general engagement event, they are holding a small Roundtable (Wednesday 2nd September 2015, in Equality House, Belfast, from Noon - 2.00pm) to set out their proposals and to hear men’s perspectives.  You are invited to attend.  For space / catering arrangements, it is important to book a place with Liz Law from ECNI (Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Tel: 028 9050 0573) and to let her know if you require any reasonable adjustments or have any dietary requirements.