Health & Wellbeing of Adults Newsletter January 2025

Make Everyday Active

Everyday Active was launched in 2020 following extensive community consultation and engagement by Active Kent & Medway. The website everydayactivekent.org.uk is central to the campaign and highlights the wide range of inclusive and accessible opportunities that are available across the county, for anyone looking to start moving more in their everyday life.


Resources

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To help spread the word about Everyday Active and encourage more people to become more active, we’ve produced some Everyday Active posters, postcards and z-fold cards which are free and available to all.

Perhaps you’d like to display a poster in your workplace or local community hall? Your local GP Surgery, Library or supermarket?

You can download our resources to print yourself or fill in an order form and we’ll post hard copies out to you. We also have digital screen versions available. Email activekent@kent.gov.uk and we can discuss your requirements.

Follow this link to access free resources


Meet our Champions

Our Everyday Active Champions help increase awareness of local opportunities and explore ways to encourage more people to become active in their local communities. We currently have champions in 12 locations across the county.

Our champions Nikki, Maria and Julie have shared an insight into what they get up to as an Everyday Active champion in their local community.

Follow this link to find out about the Champion role

Are you passionate about physical activity and keen to help others become more active? Perhaps you’d like to volunteer as an Everyday Active champion? We’d love to hear from you. Just email activekent@kent.gov.uk to express your interest and one of the team will be in touch.


Free Everyday Active Workshops

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. Our next workshop dates are:

  • Wednesday 30 April, 10:00 – 11:30
  • Tuesday 8 July, 13:00 – 14:30
  • Thursday 18 September, 9.30 – 11:00
  • Tuesday 2 December, 13:00 – 14:30

All are welcome to attend. We also offer bespoke closed workshops for organisations or teams. 

Follow this link to find out about the Everyday Active Workshop

Mental Health Support

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Resources, Campaigns and Training

Mental health and physical activity are interlinked and there is growing evidence highlighting the positive impact being active can have on mental wellbeing.

Being active releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good – boosting your self-esteem and helping you concentrate as well as sleep well and feel better.

We’ve collated a range of resources and campaigns that are available across Kent and Medway to support, manage and help improve mental wellbeing.

Follow this link to access the resources

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Mind Self-Care Library

Mind have updated their free self-care library with new breathing, grounding and wellbeing activities. Self-care techniques can help manage the symptoms of many mental health problems. They may also help prevent some problems from developing or getting worse. 

The library aims to help people working and volunteering in the physical activity and sport sector to support their own wellbeing and that of others.

The ‘get active, feel good’ pages have handy tips, resources and inspirational stories to help you get active.

Follow this link to access the library of support

Healthier Lifestyle Grants

Stop Smoking Service Support Grant

Kent County Council, working in partnership with Kent Community Health Foundation Trust, delivers a holistic Healthy Lifestyle service, One You Kent (OYK). This service supports around 2,800-3,000 people a year to quit smoking. Funding, administered by Active Kent & Medway, is currently available for projects that:

  • support individuals to set a quit date or to quit smoking
  • increase referrals and improve pathways into KCC commissioned stop smoking services
  • Increase promotion of KCC’s ‘Stop Smoking Services’ and the benefits of quitting smoking

The grant can be used for marketing resources, signage, events and activities. Innovative project ideas are welcomed. Application deadline is noon on 31 January 2025.

Follow this link to apply for the Grant


Drugs & Alcohol Services Support Grant

Administered by Active Kent & Medway, the Kent County Council funding, up to £10,000, is available for projects that aim to reduce the harm caused by drugs and alcohol and improve the health and wellbeing of Kent’s population. The grant application(s) needs to support one of the following objectives:

  • Increase referrals and improve pathways into KCC’s commissioned drug and alcohol treatment services
  • Provide recovery support activities that support individuals to develop their recovery capital and avoid relapse

The grant can be used for marketing resources, signage, events and activities. Innovative project ideas are welcomed. Application deadline is noon on 31 January 2025.

Follow this link to apply for the Grant

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

Let's Dance

In partnership with Sport & Recreation Alliance, Angela Rippin CBE is spearheading a nationwide movement on Sunday 2 March 2025 with one objective – to get more people dancing! Let’s Dance aims to raise awareness of the benefits of dance on our mental and physical health, make it easier to join in and find a suitable class, and bring people together to connect through dance.

Follow this link to get involved in Let’s Dance

There are lots of opportunities to get into dancing across Kent and Medway.

Follow this link to Everyday Active and search ‘dance’

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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