Live Longer Better Network News – Issue No.10 February 2025
Introduction
Welcome to the February edition of the Kent and Medway Live Longer Better Network News. Live Longer Better aims to promote healthy ageing and a happy and fulfilling life as we grow older. We hope you find the following articles and updates of interest. Please share the news with your colleagues, partners and your own local networks.
Upcoming Events
Join Kent and Medway’s Live Longer Better Network Event
We are delighted to announce our next Live Longer Better Network Event will take place online on Thursday 27 March, 1pm-2.30pm.
The event is a great opportunity to connect with other network members and hear about active ageing activities (physical, cognitive and emotional) across Kent and Medway.
You’ll hear from speakers who will share their knowledge on Funding; Active Environments and Planning; and Engaging Older Adults in Physical Activity. We hope you and your colleagues can join us for the event.
Join the Green Social Prescribing Event at Bedgebury Forest
Are you a Social Prescriber Link Worker in Kent? On Wednesday 16 April 2025, 9am – 2pm, Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest are holding a free network event to find out about Bedgebury’s health and wellbeing activities. There will be an opportunity to meet activity providers, join a roundtable discussion and take part in a forest-based wellbeing session.
Lunch and vehicle admission included.
Everyday Active Partner Toolkit
We’re delighted to share our NEW Everyday Active Partner Toolkit. Designed to help local partners, health professionals and organisations promote the campaign and website to a wider audience.
Everyday Active was launched by Active Kent & Medway in 2020, following extensive community consultation and engagement. The campaign and website were devised to:
- help promote physical activities and sessions offered by partners across the county, who are trying to reach new, less active audiences.
- assist health practitioners in having effective conversations with their patients about physical activity, that can lead to meaningful and sustainable behaviour change.
Included in the toolkit are digital or hard copy posters (free to order or download), logos and suggested social media posts. You can also access all the resources via the Active Kent & Medway google drive.
Follow this link to access the Everyday Active partner toolkit
Are You Ageist?
Ageism is the prejudice that’s hidden in plain sight. It’s embedded in our society and even accepted as normal by those of us who are older. We see and hear casual ageism every day in the media, on TV, at work, in pubs, cafes, on social media, in family conversations.
Age Without Limits is a campaign from The Centre for Ageing Better. It aims to inspire and inform those in power to tackle the inequalities faced by older people, call out and challenge ageism in all its forms and encourage the widespread take-up of brilliant ideas and approaches that help people to age better.
Activities and Resources
Workplace Health Checks
Kent County Council are currently looking for workplaces who are interested in offering cardiovascular (CVD) health checks for their staff in their workplace. The health checks, available for a limited time only, are a free, convenient and effective way to help your workforce stay well.
The health checks enable health risks to be identified, and treatment or professional support recommended, early on. The anonymised data gathered will also give employers evidence on which to build a future wellbeing strategy.
Follow this link to find out more and arrange a workplace health check
ESCAPE Pain Programme
ESCAPE pain is a six week programme to help people aged over 45, experiencing long-term hip or knee pain, due to osteoarthritis, lead a more active lifestyle.
“I wanted to reduce the pain medication I am on for my arthritis, which I have done. It’s a group session but you still get individualised care. I have been running around with my granddaughter with no pain!” Gill, 74
The programme can be accessed at Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Aylesford or Gravesend. If you cannot attend any of these locations or would prefer to access the ESCAPE programme in your own time, please visit escape-pain.org.
Follow this link to learn more about the ESCAPE Pain Programme
Arthritis Movement Snacks
Arthritis Action is a UK charity, offering an integrated self-management approach to help people living with arthritis. Exercise is one of the most effective tools in managing arthritis, as it can help with joint pain, stiffness, mobility and weight management.
They have a range of free exercise and physical activity resources, including a list of free virtual exercise classes and their arthritis-friendly ‘Movement Snacks’.
Empowering Carers to be active
We are Undefeatable has teamed up with Carers UK to create a new resource pack for carers of people living with long term health conditions. Packed with tips and advice, it helps family, friends and carers to support the people they care for to be active, and to encourage them to move more too.
The pack addresses the confidence gap highlighted in the 2024 Bridging the Gap report, which found that only 14% of carers feel ‘very confident’ in encouraging physical activity.
Funding Opportunities
The McCarthy Stone Foundation Grants
The McCarthy Stone Foundation offer grants for charities and community groups or organisations working with adults over 65 and/or their Carers.
- Dementia Grants Programme – up to £7,500 to dementia clubs and memory cafes. Applications close on 14 March 2025. A place-based approach will be adopted to prioritise grant applications: Dover, Folkestone & Hythe, Thanet, Gravesham, Swale, Medway.
Follow this link to apply for Dementia Grant
- Creating Connections Grant Programme – up to £7,500 to reduce isolation and loneliness. Applications open 1 August 2025 and close 29 August 2025
National Wellbeing Campaigns
International Women’s Day: 8 March 2025
Find out about International Women’s Day
National No Smoking Day: 12 March 2025
Find out about National No Smoking Day
Stress Awareness Month: April 2025
Find out about Stress Awareness Month
World Health Day: 7 April 2025
Find out about World Health Day
World Parkinson’s Day: 11 April 2025
Find out about World Parkinson’s Day
On Your Feet Britain: 24 April 2025
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you
If there’s anything in our network news you’d like to discuss further, please get in touch with Michelle Bird, our Health and Wellbeing Officer at: michelle.bird@kent.gov.uk.