Active Belfast – Take 5 Steps To Wellbeing – Your Voice Your Choice

What is Take 5 steps to wellbeing?

Take 5 steps to wellbeing is an evidence based public health message aimed at improving the wellbeing of the whole population. Evidence suggests there are 5 steps we should all take to help improve our mental health and wellbeing. These are:

• Connect
• Keep learning
• Be active
• Take notice
• Give

Together and even individually, these steps encourage us to think about our daily routines and embrace the 5 activities to support better health and wellbeing.

For more information on Take 5 steps to wellbeing, click here.

Application process

Applications opened 25 November 2024 and closed 10 January 2025. Groups across the city submitted project ideas which contributed to the Take 5 steps to wellbeing theme, applying for up to £2,500.

Market stall voting events

2076 local residents attended four local Market Stall Decision Making Events in February 2025 to decide which projects would get funded.

 

• Over 92% of stallholders at the voting events said that they would do it again
• 99% of voters felt it was important to have a say in how money was spent in their local area
• 84% of voters said that they knew more about Take 5 steps to wellbeing as a result of attending the event.

Project delivery

78 projects were funded and over 10,000 people participated in their activities between April and October 2025.

 

Collaboration

Groups told us that they wanted to connect with each other to see if there were opportunities for collaboration.  We facilitated three events called “Let’s Chat” to support groups to share information and good practice on their projects.  Five projects also took part in a video to show how they used Take 5 steps to wellbeing in their own communities.

 

Celebration

A celebration event took place on 27 November 2025 in Belfast City Hall where every project showcased their activities and benefits to the local community through . Click here to view the posters.

 

Feedback

“Brilliant, I had no idea so many people are doing so many great things in our community, well done”.

“What was meaningful was being able to let our community know that we are there to support them”.

“Great opportunity to meet other groups and network”.