Community Development Health NetworkID: 2385

Community Development and Heath Network (CDHN) was established in 1995 and is the only regional community development and health infrastructure support organisation in Northern Ireland.

CDHN's mission is to end health inequalities using a community development approach. By this we mean campaigning, influencing policy and developing best practice work which shows that communities, both geographical and of interest and identity, can define their own health needs and design and implement preventative and radical solutions.

CDHN works towards its mission through three strategic aims:

• Networking – sharing and developing best practice
• Influencing Policy – supporting members to influence policy development
• Campaigning – mainstreaming the message that community development is an effective method for tackling health inequalities

CDHN is a membership organisation with 1800 contacts and 400 organisations signed up to our statement of values who are working on community development and health in both the community and voluntary sectors and the statutory sector.

CDHN works closely with members through its core membership services under the Pathways to Health project, funded by the Big Lottery. CDHN also runs the Building Community Pharmacy project in partnership with the DHSSPS Pharmacy Branch.  We support members through networking events, one-off conference and seminar events and through Health Bytes – our monthly newsletter which goes to all contacts and our website www.cdhn.org

CDHN is a values based organisation: we believe that health is a human right and is defined by a range of issues, not just the absence of ill health.