Lifelines

CHARITABLE BOOKS:Books for Hospitals is a charity which aims to make bookshops a focal point to help local communities. Collection bins are provided in participating bookshops and customers can buy an extra book to donate to a local hospital or hospice. For every 10 books bought, the store will donate a book. See www.worldbookday.com

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION:The Ana Liffey Drug Project was set up 25 years ago to help Dublin inner city communities deal with heroin abuse. Its work will be celebrated at a half-day conference on March 15th in Trinity College Dublin. Various speakers will discuss the history of the north Dublin inner city centre and its role in helping families and communities reduce the harm caused by drug abuse. Admission is free. See also www.aldp.ie

BRAIN INJURY SEMINAR:An information seminar on acquired brain injury will take place next Tuesday, March 13th, in the Radisson SAS Hotel, Galway city. Held to coincide with International Brain Awareness Week, the seminar will include talks by Keith Jenkins, consultant neuropsychologist from the Kensley National Centre for Brain Injury Rehabilitation; Dr Agnew Sheil, professor of occupational therapy, NUI Galway; and Paula Bradley, speech and language therapist at the National Rehabilitation Hospital.

The seminar is organised by the Peter Bradley Foundation and the Acquired Brain Injury Advocacy Association. See www.peterbradleyfoundation.ie or tel: 01-2804164

LESSONS IN ALLERGIES:Environmental health officers in the Republic and the North have begun a training programme to teach staff in food businesses about food allergies. The pilot programme, funded by Safefood and the European Union, was initiated after it was discovered that staff in sandwich bars, cafes and forecourt shops were unable to give customers basic information about ingredients and potential allergy risks.