Belfast Learning Festival To Focus On Mental Health

The tools needed for positive mental health and wellbeing will be the focus of this year's Belfast Festival of Learning.

Returning for its fifth year, the week-long programme will tackle the requirements of building a stronger resilience among citizens to help people manage the stresses and strains of everyday life, Belfast City Council has announced.

Over 100 different interactive events, inducing yoga and mindfulness classes for teens and nature and history walks on Cave Hill, will showcase the networks and organisations offering learning opportunities across the city.

Other events include old time dancing, science starz fun at Cloona House, IT classes in community centres across the city, silver screen sing–song at the Strand Arts Centre and much more.

The festival will take place throughout the week beginning Monday 23 March.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Daniel Baker said there is merit in focusing on positive mental health at a local government level.

"The more confident and skilled our communities are, the more prosperous, connected, equitable and prepared our society becomes," Cllr Baker commented.

"The theme of health and well-being and building resilience is very appropriate as the council recently launched its draft resilience strategy, looking at ways we as a city can tackle the stresses and strains of everyday life. I want to be a champion of positive mental health and wellbeing and this year's festival theme connects with my ambition to promote the 'Take 5' steps to health and wellbeing."

The events are free and fully accessible for all residents of Belfast.

Danny Power, Chairperson of the Belfast Festival of Learning is looking forward to a busy festival programme. He said: "Belfast has an opportunity to work together to use learning to tackle inequalities and improve the quality of life for all through the Learning City efforts. The Belfast Festival of Learning is a great example of how this can be done and also showcases what the city has to offer."

The event is a celebration of Belfast joining the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, with a vision of Belfast as a learning city for everyone 'putting people at the heart of learning'.