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

More documents

Recommendations

Info

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.
Centres also offer a valuable space for local networks and supportgroups to host events including:■■■■■■■■■Opportunities for older people;After school and homework clubs; parent and toddler sessions;Health Visitor/baby clinics;Parenting classes;Junior and senior youth clubs;Drop-in sessions for young unemployed people;Education and training;Keep-fit, relaxation and self-defence classes;Free computer/internet drop-in sessions for all ages and abilities.■ Diabetes, stroke and mental health support groupsThere are also summer family fun days andevents, coach trips, parties, discos, barbecues,summer play schemes and outings.The centres contribute to lasting changes to the lives ofresidents, helping them overcome the problems that oftenprevent them from enjoying healthy lifestyles and playing a fullpart in economic, social and community activities, and bygenerally improving their quality of life.Teenage PregnancyTeenage pregnancy continues to hit the headlines both nationally and locally. In Kent there are 28 wardsacross the county with a teenage pregnancy rate of more than 75 per 1,000 teenage girls. The centresacross Kent run regular 4YP (For Young People) clinics staffed by trained nurses in partnership with localPrimary Care Trusts (PCTs). The young people that use these services have access to advice on emergencycontraception, condoms, ongoing contraceptive advice and referrals for termination and other sexualhealth services (where appropriate). Holding these clinics in the Centres has proved invaluable for SchoolNurses who have found that young people are often more willing to come for advice in these moreconfidential community settings than they are in school where they risk being seen.The service is supported by trained centre staff who are also able to give out condoms on the days whenthe clinics are not running. There are strong links between this work and the role of youth workers,secondary schools and youth clubs. This has led to an increase in the numbers attending 4YP clinics.The centres are also working with teenage parents in their areas. Work with YoungMen and Dads is also seen as a key part of the Kent Teenage Pregnancy strategy.And so the centres across Kent are working hard to start up “Dads”groupsin partnership with other local agencies.The centres also play an active role in the Kent wide TeenagePregnancy Local Implementation Groups (LIGs). Thisensures that the centres are stakeholders in the KentTeenage Pregnancy strategy as well as being able tofeed their community perspectivesinto the LIGs.4 Healthy Living in Kent making a difference5
Page 1: Designed by Bananadesign www.banana
Page 5 and 6: Mental health and well-beingAlmost
Page 7 and 8: The GR@ND, GravesendThe GR@ND opene

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

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?