Live Longer Better Network News – Issue No.7 July 2024
Introduction
Welcome to the July edition of the Live Longer Better Network News. We have lots to look forward to this summer with the Football European Championships, Wimbledon, Olympics and Paralympics to name just a few.
This edition contains a ‘Save the Date’ for our popular Active Kent & Medway ‘Move Together’ annual conference plus details about the upcoming Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards. It also features interesting research from Loughborough University and some great activities, including walking cricket and gardening.
Please spread the word to colleagues and other organisations, about our Kent and Medway Live Longer Better Network. As you know, the campaign aims to increase people’s healthy lifespan, especially for the 55’s and over. You are never too young to live longer better!
Live Longer Better Network Event Recording
Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to our online Live Longer Better Network event on 30 April 2024. We were delighted to welcome Claire Howard who provided an informative insight into the work of NHS Talking Therapies and how to refer to the service. Sarah Cheadle gave a presentation regarding Cycle UK’s community and workplace support to encourage more people to cycle. Finally, Lorraine Elliott from Your Leisure, discussed the range of activities for the over 50’s in Thanet.
If you require a transcript of the event recording, please email activekent@kent.org.uk.
Active Kent & Medway Conference 2024
Save The Date: Active Kent & Medway’s Conference is on Wednesday 16 October 2024, 9:30 – 15:30 at the Kent Event Centre, Detling, ME14 3JF. The theme of this year’s conference is: “Move Together – promote equality, value diversity, support inclusion.”
Following the success of our 2023 conference, with over 160 representatives in attendance, we plan to make 2024 even bigger. You will hear from a keynote speaker and representatives from across the sport, physical activity, and health sectors as they take part in a Q&A session and talk about the contribution they are making to promote equality, value diversity and support inclusion, whilst helping more people to become more active.
There will also be a choice of ‘bite-sized briefings’ on key topics, as well as the opportunity to network with other delegates. Conference bookings will open in September but please save the date in your calendars to avoid disappointment. Further details will be shared on our Active Kent & Medway Conference 2024 web page as we finalise them.
Follow this link to view 2024 Active Kent & Medway Conference
Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards
It’s time to celebrate those mental health and wellbeing champions in our schools, businesses, communities or families. Nominations are now being accepted for an annual awards event that focuses on wellbeing and the people, organisations and initiatives that support our mental health.
The Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards accepts nominations linked to three themes – kindness and compassion, wellbeing, and mental health. The awards will be staged in October by the mental health charity Mind in Bexley and East Kent in collaboration with a range of wellbeing and mental health organisations. For 2024, new categories have been added for veterans, seniors, partnership projects and suicide prevention. Nominations from across Kent and Medway can be submitted up until noon on 1 September 2024.
Physical Activity and Mental Health
Academics from Loughborough University (National Centre for Sport & Exercise Medicine) have undertaken research on a range of areas where physical activity can help enhance mental health across the life course i.e. Young people, Midlife and Older Age.
The research also looks at: a two year physical activity programme with the charity Mind; a study linking the relationship between exercise, diet and sleep; and an article looking at the barriers affecting transgender and non binary identifying people.
Local Activities
Communigrow
Communigrow is a sustainable food education charity based in East Malling, Kent – a tranquil haven for people and wildlife alike. The charity offers the following services:
- Adult wellbeing and open volunteering sessions.
- ‘Gardening to Feel Great’ sessions if you are aged over 55, or have a long term health condition, or feel socially isolated.
- The Communigrow Gardening team also work with social housing providers to create new food growing spaces in the wider community.
- Communigrow accepts Green Therapy referrals from the NHS, social prescribers and other referral pathways.
Contact them to find out more or pop along to their Open Day on Saturday 13 July, 11am – 2pm and enjoy their 10th Birthday celebrations.
Connect with Nature
Connect with Nature is an online course focused on connecting people with nature and enjoying the wellbeing benefits it brings. Over 8 weeks you will take part in a short, weekly online group session where we will discuss and learn about different nature-based topics in a relaxed and informal manner. In between the sessions you will have the option to take on small, easy, and enjoyable nature challenges set for you during the group discussion.
Kent High Weald Partnership are delighted to offer the FREE 8 week programme, which will commence on Friday 12 July at 2pm.
For more information or to sign up, please email: cally.fiddimore@kent.gov.uk.
Walking Cricket
Walking Cricket is a slower-paced format of the game, ideal for the over-50’s. It has has been developing across the UK over the last 10 years, with the aim to make cricket accessible for all ages and abilities. It is still the traditional game but has been adapted to a slower paced version. It is also played with a softer ball and is played indoors or outdoors.
The game allows every participant to move around and have a go as well as score and umpire, providing both mental and physical activity. The playing of the game is as important as the time afterwards to catch up with a cuppa.
A recent article in the Guardian featured Three Hills Sports Centre in Folkestone and explains how walking cricket is giving the over 50’s a ‘new lease of life’.
Follow this link to find walking cricket sessions across Kent
National Wellbeing Campaigns
Cycle to Work Day: 1 August 2024
Find out about Cycle to Work Day
Samaritans Talk to Us Month: July 2024
Find out about Samaritans Awareness Month and Day 24 July
United Nations International Day of Friendship: 30 July 2024
Find out about International Day of Friendship
WHO Self-Care Month: 24 June – 24 July 2024
Other Announcements
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you
If there’s anything in our network news you’d like to discuss further, please contact Michelle Bird, our Health & Wellbeing Officer via email: michelle.bird@kent.gov.uk.