April/May - The Greets Green Partnership Legacy Website

PARTNERSHIP NEWS HEALTHHEALTHY MINDSCELEBRATESThe first year of the Healthy Minds pr oject hasproved such a success that a new volunteer,Joanna Tweed, has been recruited to helpCo-ordinator, Julie Davies run the project.Joanna said: “I’m really enjoying helpingJulie out a few hours a week. I offersupport to people at bereavementmeetings, deliver leaflets, help withmeetings and visit community groupsto let everyone know about the projectwhich aims to bring wellbeing to GreetsGreen residents.”now more aware of mental health issueswhich may affect them.Various community groups have alsobeen awarded grants of up to £500from the Greets Green Healthy MindsCommunity Fund to help with wellbeingprojects. These include:●looks at how food, additives andnutrition can affect our wellbeing.The Yemeni CommunityAssociation - Egyptian dancing andyoga sessions have been set up toimprove the health, wellbeing andconfidence of its female members.Thanks to the project, lots of people acrossGreets Green have already benefited fromstress awareness, complementary therapyand massage sessions.A wellbeing directory and various self-helpbooklets have also been produced. Plus,a ladies’ self-help bereavement group hasbeen set up and the local community isSINESS!■■provide access to cost effective andeco-friendly supplies and serviceshost monthly networking eventsto enable businesses to meetlike-minded business people,make new contacts and find newbusiness leadsSteve Massey from Sandwell Councilsaid: “Since the site's launch, we’vehad over 2,500 local businesses registeras members and it’s generated over£90m worth of business opportunities.“The website homepage averages over14,000 hits per month and is startingto attract hits on a global scale.”The aim is to build a bigger, brighterand greener local economy by sharinginformation on local businesses.Registering with finditinsandwell isfree, and further information isavailable by visiting the website orcalling Steve Massey at SandwellCouncil on 0121 569 2105 or emailstephen_massey@sandwell.gov.uk●●George Salter Collegiate Academy– a ‘Ladz to Ladiez’ class helps femalepupils’ self confidence and self esteem byteaching them everything from cookingto hair and beauty and self-defence.Sandwell Mind – a new wellbeingcourse at Wood Lane CommunityCentre has been set up along witha Food and Mood workshop whichThe project, which began in 2006,has just come to an end, but has leftresidents much better informed.It has been very successful in raisingawareness that pharmacists can giveyou information. You don’t need to takeup a doctor’s time which another patientcould benefit from because they have amore urgent need.The project ran alongside the PharmacyFirst campaign, run by Sandwell PrimaryCare Trust, where local chemists put upleaflets and posters listing the ailmentswhich pharmacists could give adviceand treatment for.These include colds, cold sores,conjunctivitis and child problems suchas nappy rash and headlice. Minorailments sessions have been run at local●'Paintbox’ - new art equipment hasbeen purchased by a group for olderpeople to socialise and enjoy art atLodge Road Community Centre.To find out more about the HealthyMinds project and any of thesewellbeing projects, contact Julieon 07884 202799 or emailhealthyminds@hotmail.co.ukMINOR AILMENTSPROJECT PAYS OFFMore and more people in Greets Green have learned to turn to theirpharmacist for help and advice thanks to the work of the Minor Ailmentsproject.community venues including theGreets Green Children’s Centre sothat parents could learn more aboutwhat pharmacists can help with.There have also been 26 healthinformation sessions held givingresidents information about ailmentsthey may already have, or be at riskfrom, such as diabetes or heart disease.Community Health DevelopmentWorker, Gursharan Kaur, explained:“Some people have already got theseconditions so we’ve been focusingon sharing information about how tomanage them better.“For people who might be at risk,we’ve been letting them know how theycan manage their own lifestyle better.The project has been a real success.”Greets Green Magazine April/May 2008 11