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

Sevenoaks Healthy Lifestyles ProjectSevenoaks District is generally regarded as a prosperous area, but this perception can mask poverty,vulnerability, rural isolation and consequent social exclusion. In 2000, the Sevenoaks Healthy LifestylesProject was set up initially in Swanley,funded by the Big Lottery Fun, to improve the lives of residents and topromote healthier living. Since then, ongoing partnership working between Sevenoaks District Council,Sencio Community Leisure, West Kent Primary Care Trust (PCT), town and parish councils West Kent PrimaryCare Trust and the voluntary sector has ensured that effective community services have continued to bedelivered in the local area. This has included targeted work with young people, older people, people withmental health problems and young parents; and initiatives such as:■■■■Outreach lifestyle advice sessionsDance projects for both young and oldHealth walksTooth-brushing projects for pre-school children■ Silver surfer computer coursesEvaluations have shown that more than 4000 residents have directlybenefited from initiatives as part of the project in Swanley and Edenbridge(part funded by West Kent PCT) in the last three years. The project hasalso encouraged at least 700 people per year to take more exercise.The successful Sevenoaks Healthy Lifestyles Project continues to developinto other rural areas where work is also needed to reduce healthinequalities and improve the health and wellbeing of residents.This project continues to play a vital role in the shared visionof the council’s Sustainable CommunityAction Plan, “Making It Happen Together.”For more information please contactthe Community Development Team on 01732227000 or visit our website at:www.sevenoaks.gov.ukSheppey MattersSheppey Matters is a local health charity responsible for Sheppey Healthy Living Centre (Sheppey HLC) anda range of outreach projects. Sheppey Matters was set up in 1995 by local residents concerned about poorhealth on the Isle of Sheppey. The group grew in confidence and in 2001 was awarded a grant from theNew Opportunities Fund to transform an existing leisure centre into a healthy living centre with a GPsurgery and a range of multi-purpose rooms. Sheppey HLC opened its doors in February 2003.We deliver a very wide range of services in partnership with the community with annual attendance of15,000 people. Each week there are more than 30 different activities on offer, including the services youwould expect to see in a leisure centre, such as gym workouts and dance classes .We also offer supportgroups, counselling services, youth projects, sexual health clinics, activities for older people and parentingclasses.Local partners increasingly turn to Sheppey Matters to deliver projects on their behalf. When SwaleBorough Council needed a partner to develop a new cinema in Sheerness, they knew we would involvelocal people, access funds and deliver the project on time and on budget. Screen on Sheppey - our newcommunity cinema – started in November 2006 and is proving to be a big attraction. We were also askedto develop Sheppey Wheels – a new minibus project – which addresses poor transport on the eastern endof Sheppey. This project started in October 2006 and already has more than 130 individual members takingpart in various trips.For more information please telephone 01795 583547 or visit our website: www.sheppeyhlc.org.uk14 Healthy Living in Kent making a difference15