Health and Wellbeing of Adults News – September 2024
Everyday Active
Everyday Active is Active Kent & Medway’s flagship campaign helping more people to be more active in their everyday life. The website, www.everydayactivekent.org.uk is central to the campaign. It promotes activities offered by partners countywide and provides support and resources for health professionals, social prescribers, One You advisers and other partners to have meaningful and productive conversations about physical activity.
Free Workshop
The Everyday Active Workshop is for anyone wanting to improve their knowledge and understanding of the benefits of physical activity, to feel confident about having conversations with others to help get more people, more active across Kent and Medway.
“Very useful session. Everyday Active is a great resource. I will definitely use it when speaking with people about becoming more active.” Attendee
Join us online for our next free workshop:
Wednesday 4 December 2024, 10:00 – 11:30. Book Your Place
Everyday Active WoW Challenge
This autumn, we’re inviting you, your friends, family and colleagues to join our Everyday Active WoW Challenge .
Studies have shown that sitting for long periods of time during the day is bad for our overall health and wellbeing, so throughout October we’re encouraging everyone to walk more or wheel more, if you use a wheelchair or mobility scooter. A daily brisk walk or wheel can lift your mood, get your heart pumping, lower the risk of serious health issues and help you achieve the recommended 150 minutes of moderately intense physical activity every week (Chief Medical Officer).
To take part, all you have to do is sign up to Kent’s free Activity Tracker and start logging your walking and wheeling activities from 1 October 2024 – 31 October 2024.
Accessible, Inclusive, Adaptive Activities
Active Kent & Medway is committed to tackling the inequalities that some communities face in taking part in sport and physical activity across the county. Hear how Kanndiss, founder of NBE Fitness in Margate, used Sport England’s Together Fund, to deliver accessible, inclusive, adaptive social activities to support participant’s physical and mental wellbeing.
“It’s just doing stuff that I want to do that, often, is seen as a bit weird with people who also enjoy it. So you’re completely normalised, which will always help with your mental and physical health.” Sharron
1.8 billion Adults at risk
New data shows that nearly one third (31%) of adults worldwide, approximately 1.8 billion people, did not meet the recommended levels of physical activity in 2022. The findings point to a worrying trend of physical inactivity among adults, which has increased by about 5 percentage points between 2010 and 2022.
If the trend continues, levels of inactivity are projected to further rise to 35% by 2030, and the world is currently off track from meeting the global target to reduce physical inactivity by 2030.
“Promoting physical activity goes beyond promoting individual lifestyle choice – it will require a whole-of-society approach and creating environments that make it easier and safer for everyone to be more active in ways they enjoy to reap the many health benefits of regular physical activity.” Dr Fiona Bull, Head of the WHO Unit for Physical Activity.
Swim England Hub
Water Wellbeing Hub
Swim England has developed a Water Wellbeing hub to offer the best possible experience for people who are inactive and/or have long term health conditions to become physically active in water.
Health Fact Sheets have been produced on swimming with particular health conditions, i.e. asthma, diabetes and musculoskeletal conditions. Organisations can also find out more about becoming an accredited Water Wellbeing provider.
Swimming as Medicine
Swim England has produced a film to encourage nurses to consider ‘Swimming as Medicine’ for patients. The film features a nurse who shares her experiences of how talking to patients about swimming has led to significant improvements in their health. One patient, Glynis, mixes swimming with aqua-fit classes and has seen benefits in terms of her balance and suppleness. “Being in the water was like magic” she explained. The film is part of Swim England’s Water Wellbeing programme.
Kent Connect to Support
Brought to you by Kent County Council, Kent Connect to Support is a website that provides answers to common questions, information and advice to help you look after yourself, stay independent and connected.
The Health and Wellbeing pages provide support, advice and information on learning disabilities and autism, health conditions, mental health, staying safe, local healthcare services, healthy living services and being active.
Snacktivity
Are you interested in taking part in a new, year long study to help people become more physically active? Snacktivity encourages people to do short ‘snacks’ of physical activity throughout the day and across the week to improve their health. Loughborough University are leading the study to find out if the Snacktivity approach helps people to become more physically active.
Do you work with individuals or groups of people who may benefit from taking part in the study? Kent County Council are recruiting volunteer group leaders, on behalf of the Research Delivery Team, to train to deliver Snacktivity. Group leaders would need to attend a short, virtual training session, identify and invite participants and deliver 2-5 minute intervention sessions to them. If you are interested in becoming a group leader, please contact Paige.Hurlstone@kent.gov.uk
Follow this link for more information about the Snacktivity Study
Making Every Contact Count
We all meet and interact with people every day at work, at home and in our communities. ‘Making Every Contact Count’ (MECC) uses these interactions to support people in making positive changes to their physical health, mental health and general wellbeing.
Free training is available to help you to have a positive effect on the health and wellbeing of individuals by signposting to local health services, engaging them in health and lifestyle related conversations or both.
Other News & Announcements
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you
If there’s anything in this newsletter you’d like to discuss, then just get in touch and one of our team members will get back to you as soon as possible. Please email: activekent@kent.gov.uk
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