The videos form part of Sligo County Council's Keep Well programme, providing the public with resources and advice on how to maintain good physical and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Each week, a new video will focus on people in the community who are helping others in different ways to overcome the challenges we face during these difficult times. These include people who have been delivering online classes to groups who have been unable to leave their homes, as well as others who have shown great public spirit and compassion to help others who have found living with the pandemic very challenging.

Speaking in the launch video, Minister Feighan adds that:

"Keep Well also highlights the many groups and individuals who are doing huge work in the community to promote positive mental health. At a local level, Sligo has been a great example of this work."

In the launch video, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr. Dara Mulvey, highlights the great work which is taking place across the county.

Thanking all of the many volunteers involved, he pinpoints the areas in which projects have been undertaken.

"These fall into five categories - keeping active, staying connected, switching off and being creative, eating well, and minding your mood. We have developed community resources that enable people to help themselves and each other,"

says Cllr. Mulvey of the different facets of the campaign.

Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services with Sligo County Council, says that the campaign has been rolled out in spite of challenges the programme facilitators have faced in coming up with ways to promote activities in a safe way.

Highlighting the fact that some of the activities have been intergenerational, she added that several schools were involved in the lead up to Christmas, and since then virtual programmes have continued, providing useful life-skills for people who may have struggled with technology or with social isolation.  

"Since then, we've done a 'Live at Three' programme, virtual cookery, a Keep Fit exercise programme for older adults and developing digital skills in conjunction with our local radio station Ocean FM,"

she says.

In the coming weeks, follow the Sligo County Council social media feeds for samples of this work. One video per week will be posted across these channels each week, highlighting the wonderful Meitheal spirit which continues to be evident in many ways in Sligo as we face the challenges of living with Covid-19.

The Keep Well initiative is being delivered by Sligo County Council through the Healthy Sligo, Keep Well and Community Resilience Fund. Please visit our website www.sligococo.ie/keepwell for resources and information, as well as staying up to date on all of the new video releases.