New Healthy Ireland Programme Co-Ordinator
Laura Kelly recently took up the position of Healthy Ireland Programme Co-ordinator in Kildare.
Healthy Ireland supports the health of people living in Kildare and responds to health inequalities and risks to our future wellbeing.
One of Laura’s first tasks is to prepare a Healthy Kildare Plan which will identify local priorities for the next five years and set corresponding goals.
Laura works with project partners Kildare Sports Partnership, Peter McVerry Trust, HEADSUP Kildare, Social Farming Ireland and the Southwestern Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force to support ongoing Healthy Ireland-funded work in communities across Kildare.
Laura says, ‘I became interested in community work while studying for a Physical Education degree at IT Tralee. I planned to become a PE teacher but found myself drawn to broader themes like health promotion, adapted physical activity, and special populations.
I went on to work in youth and community services in Carlow, Dublin, and Kildare. My roles included supporting youth employment, healthy eating and independent living, among other things.
Success in those projects looked different for each participant. For some, it was walking through the door on the first day. For others, it was a gradual increase in confidence or a job opportunity at the end of a training programme. I loved seeing small but significant changes and supporting personal growth.
I’ve been involved in initiatives that were funded by Healthy Ireland’s Community Resilience Fund, so my new role as Healthy Ireland Programme Co-ordinator in Kildare is a nice fit.
I’m looking forward to being part of something positive and contributing to the physical and mental wellbeing of Kildare citizens in close consultation with everyone involved’.
Laura Kelly can be contacted at healthyirelandcoord@countykildarelp.ie. Follow Healthy_Kildare on Facebook and on Instagram at @healthy_kildare.
