Do you receive Tax Credits?

For several years in Derbyshire, Universal Credit has replaced most new claims for 6 benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-Based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance
• Housing Benefit
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit

People in Derbyshire who receive Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, or both, but none of the other 4 benefits, will receive letters telling them to make a claim for Universal Credit. This will happen from:

• 1^st August 2023 for single claimants
• October 2023 for couples

Launch of Five to Thrive Pledge

Here in Derbyshire, we’re passionate about improving the health and happiness of our residents, and that includes supporting people to age well.

So we’re excited to share a new national campaign launching in September, which is supported by the Open University.

Called 'Take Five to Age Well', it aims to give people simple, practical advice about how to age well. From eating healthily to moving more – there are useful tips for everyone to follow.

Attached are resources and information about the campaign and we hope you will be able to share them widely and make use of them with your key audiences. It might also be a great chance to use the national campaign as a ‘hook’ to promote your services to older people in Derbyshire.

You can read more about the campaign and its aims by visiting our website 🔗 and engagement materials 🔗 (including several posters in PDF and JPEG formats). You can also make your official 'Five to Thrive' pledge by signing up online.

World Ventil8 Day – the Importance of Ventilation

The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of ventilation within enclosed spaces. As we enter Autumn, there is an increase in respiratory infections.

Workplaces that produce air pollutants as part of their activities will already control them in accordance with health and safety laws. But all enclosed spaces occupied by people will naturally build up carbon dioxide (CO₂) unless it is removed. CO₂ can build up in poorly ventilated areas such as hallways and toilets. Monitors 🔗 are available and give an indication of indoor air quality as elevated levels could mean respiratory viruses, moulds and various chemicals are also present. Cleaning and personal hygiene products have been shown 🔗 to be an increasing source of respiratory irritants that may also cause headaches and related symptoms.

In his Annual Report 2022 🔗, Chris Witty, the Chief Medical Officer, focussed on air pollution and drew attention to the increasing proportion of the day people spend indoors.

The impact of climate change on the weather means greater consideration should be given to shading and ventilation to manage thermal comfort. Stuffy environments reduce productivity and may increase accidents.

Workplace managers must balance the energy costs associated with keeping cool or warm whilst ensuring there is an adequate flow of air.

8^th November is World Ventil8Day; look out for practical tips and workplace resources by visiting the official website below.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Every October, people all over the world show their support for those affected by breast cancer.  55,000 women and 400 men in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.

Checking your breasts regularly for any unusual changes increases the chances of earlier cancer detection.  It’s important to recognise when something’s not right; for more information on how to check your breasts, visit Breast Cancer UK's official site 🔗.

Where you can go for help

If you find changes in your breast that are not normal for you, it's best to see a GP as soon as possible.  You can ask your GP or practice nurse any questions you have and let them know if you have any concerns about symptoms, screening, or treatment.

Further information can also be found online at NHS's official site, including conditions 🔗 and when you'll be invited for a screening 🔗.

Fundraising

Wear it Pink - 20^th October 2023  

Wear pink.  Raise money.

Help make life-changing breast cancer research and support happen.  At work. At school. At home.  Wherever you do it, wear pink and raise money to help fund life-changing breast cancer research and support. 

To register your interest in supporting the event, please visit the official website link below.

In ‘Stoptober’ – Good things start to happen

Stoptober is back this October with a new national campaign designed to encourage and support smokers to quit for good. While smoking rates have declined in recent years, over 5 million people in England still smoke and it remains the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death. Since its inception in 2012, Stoptober has successfully helped 2.5 million smokers make a quit attempt and has become a well-recognised annual event in the health & wellbeing calendar.

The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘When you stop smoking, good things start to happen’; reminding smokers of the many benefits of quitting and providing useful tips to help them on their quitting journey. The campaign will encourage smokers to search ‘Stoptober’, directing them to a range of information and free support tools on the Better Health - Quit Smoking 🔗 website.

If anyone in your workplace is ready to quit, encourage them to contact Live Life Better Derbyshire to join a FREE stop-smoking clinic. Call 0800 085 2299 or visit www.livelifebetterderbyshire.org.uk 🔗. If they’re not quite ready to join our service, they can find out more by downloading Derbyshire County Council’s FREE My Quit Route app online.

World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week

World AMR Awareness Week 🔗 (WAAW) is a global campaign celebrated annually to improve awareness and understanding of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and encourage best practices among the public. AMR poses a risk to workplaces as it could lead to a sicker workforce with more challenging ailments. WAAW is celebrated from 18^th - 24^th November every year and the theme for 2023 is "Preventing antimicrobial resistance together".

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat.

Become an Antibiotic Guardian 🔗. Individuals and organisations can pledge to perform a simple action which protects antibiotics against the threat of antibiotic resistance.

• Step 1 – Don’t demand antibiotics from your doctor – ask a pharmacist how to treat your symptoms.
• Step 2 – Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed; never save them for later, never give them to someone else.
• Step 3 – Spread the word, support your co-workers, friends and family to use antibiotics properly.

Mouth Cancer Action Month

Mouth Cancer Action Month is in November 2023 to increase awareness of mouth cancer.

Mouth Cancer or Oral Cancer affects areas including the throat, tongue, cheeks, and lips. Anybody can be affected, but it is most common in males over 40.

The biggest risk factors include:

• Smoking and alcohol – especially when combined
• The Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which can spread through unprotected oral sex.
• Chewing paan, betel quid, tobacco and gutkha are particularly high-risk habits.

Over 3000 people in the UK died from oral cancer last year, and over half of cases are detected in later stages. 

Signs of mouth cancer can include:

• Unusual red or white patches in the mouth
• Unusual lumps, a painless mouth ulcer that does not heal
• A persistent hoarseness.

Your dentist will screen for mouth cancer during your examination, but if you have any of these signs for over 3 weeks, then you should see your dentist or GP immediately. 

It takes 2 minutes to do a self-check - see links below for guidance:

• Self Examination Video Guide 🔗
• Further Smoking cessation & alcohol support (LLBD) 🔗
• 'Find a dentist' tool (NHS) 🔗
• Support for those struggling to find a dentist (Healthwatch Derbyshire) 🔗
• Safe sex with HPV (Planned Parenthood) 🔗

The best steps for prevention are:

• Eat a healthy diet
• Stop smoking and cut down on alcohol
• Visit your dentist as often as recommended

World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day is celebrated on the 1^st of December each year. Individuals can unite in the fight against HIV, show support for people living with HIV, and commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. Terrence Higgins Trust 🔗 are a UK HIV and sexual health charity. They support people living with HIV and amplify their voices, helping people to achieve good sexual health.

The HIV commission 🔗 has set a target to end new HIV transmissions in the UK by 2030. The most common way of getting HIV in the UK is through unprotected sexual contact with a person unaware of their HIV infection. Individuals can protect themselves from HIV through consistent and correct condom use with new and casual partners and through using PrEP 🔗. Free HIV tests are available online and in person through Sexual Health Services 🔗 and GP surgeries.

Your organisation can get involved by looking out for details of the New HIV pledge on yoursexualhealthmaters.org.uk 🔗 and by using the National Aid Trust (NAT) resources 🔗 for workplaces including the virtual red ribbon 🔗. Add the ribbon to your profile picture, email signature or post it on social media to show friends and family that you #rocktheribbon and stand alongside people living with HIV.

Stay Connected with HWD 📱

Want to stay in touch? Follow us on our official social media pages below:

• Twitter 🔗
• Facebook 🔗

You can also contact us via email at: healthy.workplaces@derbyshire.gov.uk for general enquiries and/or to submit an article for the next edition (January - March 2024) of our newsletter.  A member of our team will get back to you shortly.