Healthy Living in Kent making a difference - Gravesham Borough ...

ForewordI am very pleased to have been asked to write the foreword to thisdocument and to be able to demonstrate publicly my gratitude andsupport for the work undertaken by my colleagues working inHealthy Living Centres across Kent.We know that the circumstances in which people live are a major influence ontheir health and well-being; many health inequalities are the result of povertyand deprivation and poorer people are more likely to die earlier and suffer moreill health and chronic disease. It is increasingly important that we continue toengage with all of our local communities to deliver meaningful initiatives toassist in reducing health inequalities.Healthy Living Centres, together with community resource centres and a widerange of other community development initiatives, offer us the opportunity toensure that our public health goals continue to be delivered in partnership withcolleagues from all statutory and voluntary agencies. Crucially, it also ensuresthat local communities are actively engaged in the process of healthregeneration within their local areas.You will be able to see from this publication the enormous diversity of workundertaken with people of all ages. This work might be in relation to sexualhealth and teenage pregnancy, smoking and alcohol or physical activity andnutrition. There are also a huge number of initiatives designed to contribute tothe mental and physical well-being of local people through reducing thenegative effect of some of the wider social determinants of health.Healthy Living Centres are a key element in delivering our public healthpriorities across the county and continue to demonstrate the rewards ofpartnership working.Meradin Peachey, Director of Public Health for KentWorking with CommunitiesThe Healthy Living Centres and other community projects featured in this brochureencourage people to live well. They are flexible and responsive to community needs; theystrengthen and support local residents by providing non-stigmatising activities and servicesin a safe, non-judgemental environment; they are accessible to everyone regardless of age,status, race, beliefs or abilities.They aim to:■■■■■increase participation and cohesion;build up trust within communities;help combat crime by facilitating family support and diversionary activities for young people;provide opportunities for training and learning;improve access to health and other public services.Good health and well-being are encouraged via healthy eating and healthy lifestyle choices,and also by building confidence through:■■■■■volunteering opportunities;learning basic IT and literacy skills;tackling debt issues;improving life skills;bereavement support, and■ help in relationships or joining a community group.Resources are often focused on lone and youngparents, low income families and people experiencingexclusion or educational disadvantage.Centres provide a wide variety of community supportinformation and advice, working in partnership withCitizens Advice Bureaux, Job Centre Plus, PoliceCommunity Support Officers and local councillorsurgeries. Drop-ins for sexual health advice(including free condoms/emergencycontraception and chlamydia screening), DIAL,MINK, CAB, KCA, Carers Voice, Special NeedsAdvice/Activities Service and Gingerbreadare also run.