NICHI PROJECT/NORTHERN AREA HEALTH ALLIANCE   Networks Involving Communities in Health Improvement (NICHI) is a three year project which involves communities in health and wellbeing issues. The health project is funded through the Public Health Agency – Northern Area and it links rural support networks with the Northern Investing for Health Partnership by working to improve health and social wellbeing. 3 health improvement officers are working with NACN, CWSAN and SARN to take forward this work. The NICHI Project stretches from Rathlin to Whiteabbey, from Castlerock to Stewartstown and everywhere else in between A mapping exercise is currently being carried out with various organisations. To date around 200 groups have been mapped within the 3 networks. The NICHI project felt that it was important that these groups had some kind of connection to each other. Therefore the idea of the Health Alliance was born. The model is based on how NICHI development plans need to reflect government policy, be evidenced based, e.g. smoking cessation programmes need to link into policies and current research. It is also about being aware of budget constraints, understanding service provision and be able to take on board community views on health needs, which may be totally different in e.g. Dervock or Pomeroy. The health alliance will give communities a strong voice and enable them to be involved in the decision making process. The Community Networks Small Grants Programme is a good example of how the PHA and the Rural Support Networks have worked closely together to shape the programme. In addition the alliance will be a champion of excellence, in community development ensuring value for money and will enable community leaders to take a more proactive role. Governments can no longer take key policy decisions without first having conversations with people who will be affected by those decisions. And in fact all major partners in government acknowledge that in order to improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities it is very important especially in these days of recession that the community sector is involved at all levels. To date over 150 groups have signed up to the Health Alliance across the 3 networks.   Other benefits of joining the health alliance include access to newsletters, community consultations, funding advice, training, community surveys, technical support and representation of the sector. Membership of the health alliance will link communities to the PHA, PCC, PPI, CGs, and a whole range of other organisations and service providers working throughout the Health Improvement Sector. It is about sharing new ideas and good practice in health, working on projects and programmes across council boundaries and should avoid some of the duplication presently seen within communities.