Staying Healthy

Change4Life

Local Initiatives

North Yorkshire and York Healthy Weight, Active Lives 2009-2020

This is a partnership strategy which sets out local targets and actions to enable and support the people of North Yorkshire and York to achieve a healthy weight an active life.  It is based on government strategies and NICE guidance.

This Strategy supports the creation of a healthy local community from early years to schools and food, from sport and physical activity to planning, transport and the health service.  It focuses on five key areas: the healthy growth and development of children, promoting healthier food choices, building physical activity into our daily lives, creating incentives for better health and personalised advice and support.

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Altogether Better

Altogether Better North Yorkshire and One is one of 17 projects within the Altogether Better Programme, funded by The Big Lottery Fund in the Yorkshire and Humber region.  Altogether Better is a 5 year well-being programme to help individuals and communities to:

• eat more healthily

• be more physically active

• improve their mental health.

The focus is on working in areas of disadvantage to improve the health of identified groups with an emphasis on community and individual empowerment.  The Project will build community capacity and develop the skills of individuals to ensure long term success in sustaining improved health and making a lasting impact on health inequalities.  The intention is to enable local people to take the lead in improving the health and well-being of themselves, their families and their local community.

The project will operate in two local authorities where a total of 12 Wards have been identified as meeting the criteria for involvement – Scarborough Borough (8 Wards) and the City of York (4 wards). In each of these areas the target groups are:

• Families with Children

• Lone Parents

• Teenage Parents

• Care Leavers

• Homeless young people

For further information, please click here.

MEND

National statistics give a clear indication that the number of overweight children all over the country is growing.  Being an overweight child could bring a lifetime of health issues, not to mention having to deal with the emotional aspects.  Overweight children often grow into overweight adults.  Dieting is not the key; healthy eating and exercise is the answer and that’s what MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition…Do it) is all about.

Thanks to a partnership arrangement between NHS North Yorkshire and York  and North Yorkshire County Council’s Adult Learning Service, the MEND project is being offered to parents and children (aged 7 to 11 years) in Ryedale whose weight is above the healthy range for their age and height.  It is totally free to parents and children, who sign up to a range of fun filled sessions, and delivered by specially trained staff.  Sessions usually run for two hours after school, with a maximum of 20 sessions.  Certificates are issued on completion. 

National reports prove MEND has worked successfully in more urban areas but this is the first project to be rolled out into rural areas.  The first course started in Norton in January, and will be followed by two other courses in the Pickering area later in the spring term.  Enrolments are being taken now.  

If you are a parent or carer of an overweight child and you want to help them become fitter, healthier and happier, call 0845 300 6681.

Full details can be found on the MEND website at www.mendprogramme.org.

Recipe Cards

The Tang Hall area of the City of York was chosen for the PCT’s fourth Health Needs Assessment based on data from the Indices of Multiple Deprivation published in the Selby and York PCT’s Annual Public Health Report ‘Moving Forward’ 2004.

Over the next three years a variety of activities were developed to promote healthy eating and improve the diet of families, one of these activities was the production and promotion of healthy eating recipe cards. These were sent to all playgroup, childminders, local food retailers, health professionals and many other community based outlets within the Tang Hall area. The recipe cards proved to be so popular with local people that a further set was produced and disseminated in July 2007.  The recipe cards were updated in larger print in 2009.

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Thirsk White Horse Swim Team

Thirsk White Horse Swim Team was approached by parents of young swimmers who wanted to develop their own swimming skills but struggled to fit in activities for themselves around those of their offspring. The team offered a dedicated session during which half the pool is used by young swimmers to practice and half is used by parents who are taught to swim by the club’s teachers.  The result is a friendly session which promotes exercise and families taking part in activities together.

Runs every Saturday morning from 8 am to 9 am at Thirsk Swimming Pool. 

Parent and Rookie Lifeguards Courses

When struggling for lifeguards, Thirsk Swimming Pool, North Yorkshire developed a strong working relationship with the local swimming club.  Most lifesaving and swimming clubs suffer with a drop off in members aged 14, 15 and 16 and, the facilities they use often have a relatively high turnover of lifeguards. 

So Thirsk offered a lifeguard course to parents and opened combined ongoing training to involve younger swimmers as Rookie Lifeguards (the RLSS junior lifeguard scheme).  Parents and children and other staff members of the facility attend the combined training on a monthly basis which involves fitness training and continuing practice.  This keeps the adults fit, keeps the youngsters involved and active and provides the young swimmers with a lifesaving path through Rookie and on to the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification which is internationally recognised.

Training runs monthly on a Saturday evening from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm.

There is a complete Rookie Lifeguard course targeted for youngsters aged 10 and above running from 27 to 31 July 2009 at Bedale Leisure Centre. 

Raft Building

During the summer holidays Bedale Leisure Centre is offering  families to try out a fun activity – raft building!  Families will design and build their own rafts at the leisure centre from materials such as floats, empty barrels and ropes.  They will be given two and an half hours before getting the chance to see if the raft works in the pool.  Promoting family togetherness and fun physical activity.

Takes place on Sunday 16 August 2009 at 12 noon. 

Lifesaving Skills for Parents and Children

Youngsters and their parents are being offered the chance to learn lifesaving skills together in a set of special after school clubs starting in September.  First Aid sessions are being offered at schools - with the chance for parents to take part with their children.  The planned sessions include hands-on practical work which is aimed to get both parents and youngsters involved whilst equipping them with skills which will be useful in all areas of their life.

Starting week commencing 14 September 2009. To continue during Autumn term 2009 and hopefully be sustained thereafter.

Contact Bedale Leisure Centre (01677) 427272 or Thirsk Swimming Pool (01845) 522447 for further information on any of the activities listed.

Health Walks in York

Walking the way to health is a national initiative from Natural England and the British Heart Foundation.  It is a gentle and fun start to exercise, where people can enjoy their surroundings and meet new people.

A free leaflet entitled 'Health Walks in York' is available, containing a timetable of led walks in York.  These walks are led by qualified walk leaders who ensure the safety and welfare of participants.  A new timetable is published every three months and the timetable, along with a map of starting points, can be downloaded from the City of York website.

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