This Friday June 2nd there is a Health & Wellbeing community consultation at the Swan Family Support Resource Centre at St Anne’s School, Kilcarrig Ave., Fettercairn, Dublin. SWAN provides support to all family members and individuals affected by alcohol and drug addiction issue. The event has been organised by 29 year old Edel Corcoran a sponsored blogger for Westpark Fitness in Tallaght, where she organises challenges and events and motivates the community within the gym to become more active and health conscious. Edel has worked full time as a Garda for the past 10 years.
Edel tells us all about the event in this Q&A .
- How long have you been working with the service? I started to attend Swan Family Support service as a service user last September 2016. I am still a loyal and active participant and service user as sustainability is key to keeping the service running.
- Can you tell us more about the Health and Wellbeing Day?
The health day will start at around 10:30am. I came up with the idea as I am a sponsored fitness blogger for a local gym in Tallaght, Westpark Fitness. I have a keen interest in fitness, health, wellbeing and nutrition. I started a psychotherapy course last September in 2016 and I attended Swan for their holistic and wellbeing services. I had an idea as the service was donation led, that I would contribute in the best way I know how and that was to talk about health, fitness and nutrition and this ties in with psychotherapy as a lot of eating disorders start from mental health issues. I suggested this idea to Eamon White, the Swan Director, and he gave me full support and after several team meetings we all agreed and a plan is now in place. The long-term goal in my view is to, once I qualify, if there is a need for a service in Swan for a weight management clinic, tying in psychotherapy, holistic therapy, nutrition and fitness, well then wouldn’t that be another sustainable resource accessible to the local and surrounding community and again donation led. It would ideally work with assisting people with weight management, whether they are under or over weight, both sides of the spectrum. I am fully aware there is national policy in relation to an obesity strategy, as this is an indicator the issue is now getting worse. Unless we become proactive this will escalate and will cost not only millions of euro to the state but cost people their quality of life. If there is a need for this service we are willing participants at Swan, we work with the people for the people.
- Why do you believe this is important for local families?
This is of fundamental importance for local families as 2 out of 5 children in this state are now overweight or obese. Education is key, empowerment enables better informed choice.
- Will this be a regular information service or a one-off event?
We hope this event will run well and will be a success it really is a public consultation meeting more that a seminar per se. Information, samples, talks will all be given but I will be asking what is it the community want, what is it they need? Will a weight management clinic be of benefit? Or will regular nutritional events or fitness seminars be more advantageous? we are testing the water at grassroots level as these are the service users that will be participating in these programs. We as an organisation want to offer the best form of well being services as possible in every aspect that we can as time passes we must diversify to meet the needs of the community.
- Is there a cost to attend? Why should people go along?
There is no cost to attend. The benefits of attending include networking, community engagement, participation taking ownership of a local service which is there for you and to meet your needs. There will be prizes on the day, given by wonderful sponsors. There will be companies from various health organisations promoting the benefits of their products. There will be information on not only nutrition but supplies and information have been provided by Organ Donation Ireland, Blood.ie, RSA, The Green Ribbon Campaign to name a few. This event will highlight nutrition, health, wellbeing, and community collaboration.
Edel Corcoran
Edel Corcoran works full time as a Garda. She is 29 years old with 10 years served in the Guards. She is also a sponsored blogger for Westpark Fitness in Tallaght, where she organises challenges and events and motivates the community within the gym to become more active and health conscious. She is a brand ambassador for Natashas Living Food, an Irish vegan alternative treat company. She has completed a Masters in Maynooth University in Community and Youth Studies and has a Dip in Fitness Instruction, Dip in Nutrition and now Studying a masters in Psychotherapy. She will be giving her service as a participant whether it be as a facilitator, event manager or psychotherapist or manager of a weight management clinic all free of charge to Swan as she understands funding and how there is a need for those who consume from society to give back to when they can.
Sponsors as at 31st May: