Healthy City Public Forum is a meeting where people define the major problems in a given municipality and determine the 10P - ten problems through voting. The result is consequently verified in a poll engaging a wider range of citizens. The participants of the forum also find out more about how their problems raised at the previous year's meeting had been dealt with. This meeting with the public is not only attended by the local policy representatives, but also by the representatives of non-profit organisations, schools and other external experts.

The Healthy City Forum in Litomerice held on April 20 was attended by more than 200 people, which sets a new record within the Czech Republic so far. The event has a tradition in the town and has been brought to public notice. The Forum in the Healthy City Chrudim traditionally also has a high attendance and it was visited by 120 inhabitants this year. The Healthy City Forum took place for the first time this year in Znojmo. The success of the event, attended by 80 people, was supported by the distinctive visual style of invitation and banner on the website (see picture).

Young people are among regular participants of the public meetings. The topics and problems selected at the young people's table are often among the final 10P's. The selected problems often include topics such as support of work opportunities for young people, sheltered workplaces for the disabled or disadvantaged, flats for the underprivileged and young families, care for historical sights, historical centres, better and conceptual city promotion, parking in the city and near the sports facilities, delineation of cycling lanes in connection with cycle paths, construction of natural sports grounds for all generations, revitalisation of parks, organisation of alternative cultural events and many other topics.

The list of dates and locations is available on the website www.ZdravaMesta.cz/forum. The website also contains information about 10P – ten problems raised at the previous meeting in a given location, related strategic documents, contact data as well as invitations to events.

On Thursday of May 15, 2014, the Healthy City Litomerice hosted the Thematic Section of Healthy Cities, dedicated to engagement of the young generation in urban development and public participation. The event introduced projects, activities and best practice examples of mobilising and engaging young people in the development of cities and communities. In the beginning, the participants have been greeted by HCCZ Chairman Petr Hermann and representatives of ministries of Education and Environment. HCCZ Director Petr Svec presented the way Healthy Cities support healthy patriotism of young people.

This section was followed by the presentations of the Healthy City Litomerice. Petr Hermann introduced the way city extended cooperation with young people and how this cooperation was deepened. Representatives of the Children's Council familiarised the participants with their activities. For instance, they participate in the urban campaigns, help organise events for basic schools and children's home, organise awareness-raising programmes at schools, obtain grants and organise joint meetings of students' councils. The presentation by coordinator of the Healthy City Litomerice Rita Vlckova added information on the ways city used by the city to invite young people to cooperation, what has proven effective and where she sees space for improvement. Healthy City coordinator of Moravska Trebova Ludmila Liskova shared with the participants her experience in organising round table for youngsters on the important subject – raising employment of young people. She also introduced the experts that need to be addressed, how to invite the event participants as such and how to promote the event properly. The activity of the Children's Parliament of Turnov municipality was presented by its coordinator Tomas Spinka and vice-chairman Tadeas Matecha. Both presenters also appreciated the methodical support of the city and other city organisations as well as the importance of cooperation with all local schools, which is fundamental for the Parliament's work. The Youth Parliament was created based on young people's requirements and emerged from the Public City Forum. It has been realising a wide range of activities, helps with opinion polls and its input is regularly discussed by the City Council.

The afternoon section was dedicated to examples of possibilities to gain resources for youth activities. The Programme Erasmus+, which has been formed by merger of all educational programmes and also includes the former programme Youth in Action, was presented by Adela Zvolankova of the House of Foreign Cooperation. Adela introduced the key activities which enable requesting of financial support. These for instance include youth exchange, European voluntary service, transfer of best practice in the area of new forms of work with young people or meeting of young people and officials in charge of youth policy. The programme of „Litomerice – You are the Living City“, financed from the HENNLICH Donation Fund can serve as an example of how young people in the Litomerice region can gain financial support for their activities. HENNLICH in cooperation with Usti Community Foundation thus support non-profit activities and mobilisation of young people and try to set an example to other companies in terms of responsible business and support of regional development. The objectives and supported activities of Usti Community Foundation were introduced by Petr Vesely. Debates with minorities realised by the students of Litomerice Grammar School, e.g. a public debate about Roma minority can serve as an example of projects supported by the HENNLICH Fund.

HCCZ thematic section was attended by more than 50 representatives of municipalities, youth parliaments and students who discussed and shared their experience from cooperation between cities and young people. The programme, presentations and photographs are available HERE.

The event is a part of the HCCZ project "Youth in Action?". Yes, in Municipality!" realised under financial support by the European Union.

At the end of April 2014, the viewer rating of Facebook profile of the Healthy Cities of the Czech Republic reached the record number of 10 000 of followers ("like" sign). Within the Czech Republic, this is a very good result in the segment of non-commercial sites. The Association have been using Facebook for its promotion and information sharing since 2011.

"Using Facebook we deliver information towards the wide public and in particular towards young people, who are the most frequent users of this website. Within the social network, our association is also connected to many libraries across the Czech Republic and with hundreds of fans from abroad. The director of Local Action Group "Svetovina" from Plzen Region has become the 10,000th follower. We would like to say thank you to all those interested in information from the Healthy Cities and Regions," adds Petr Svec, HCCZ Director and national Healthy City Project Coordinator.

The Healthy City Project already underwent than 25 years of successful development on the international stage. The representatives of Healthy Cities from the European and other regions are going to meet at the 2014 International Healthy Cities Conference to be held on the October 22-25 in the Athens, Greece. The conference, whose motto sounds "Health and the City: Urban Living in the Twenty-first Century", is focused on the topics related with improving of people’s lives and well-being with an emphasis on the role of local authorities and governments. The event participants are going to share successful procedures, inspirations and best practice of the Healthy Cities from around the world. The conference will take place under the auspices of the European Regional Office of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In-depth information about the prepared conference including organisational matters and important dates is available on the following page www.healthycities2014.org.