 Hounslow Council is encouraging residents to take the first step towards a smoke-free future during this year’s four-week Stoptober challenge. The best way to do this is to sign up for Healthy Hounslow’s stop smoking service.
It provides free, personalised support including one-to-one sessions, access to nicotine replacement therapies or a free nicotine vape, and advice on how to stay smoke-free for good.
Healthy Hounslow is also teaming up with health app BetterPoints to help incentivise people to quit smoking this Stoptober. Hounslow residents can earn BetterPoints to the equivalent of £50 if they quit smoking with Healthy Hounslow.
 The Council is bringing together local experts to inform residents about the dangers of illegal tobacco. The Tobacco Awareness Roadshow will run on Monday, 22 September at Bell Square off Hounslow High Street and Tuesday, 23 September at Feltham Duck Pond. Both days will run from 11am to 4pm.
There will be information available on illegal vapes – including single-use vapes, which are now banned.
Residents can also meet the Council’s stop smoking service, the Health Outreach Team, and Addiction Recovery Community (ARC) Hounslow. They will be in hand to offer support for people who want to quit smoking and answer questions on wider health and addiction.
 Parents and carers in Hounslow now have access to an additional 750 same-day GP appointments every month for children aged 0–4 years. This is part of a new initiative to give families care quicker, closer to home, and without the need to visit A&E.
Evening appointments will be offered between 5.30pm and 8.30pm from Monday to Friday, and are designed to make it easier for busy families to see a GP quickly when their child is unwell with symptoms that cannot be treated at home.
Parents are encouraged to first check their child’s symptoms on the Hounslow Healthier Together website before deciding where best to seek care.
 If you are new to cooking or feel out of practice, Learn Hounslow's Confidence in the Kitchen course will guide you through the essential skills to prepare healthy, easy and delicious meals at home.
The course uses easily available, fresh and affordable ingredients. You will also learn the basics of nutrition and food hygiene to get you feeling ready and confident in the kitchen.
The course will take place at an equipped learning kitchen at Meadowbank Adult Learning and Community Learning Centre from Monday, 22 September. Each session will run on Monday evenings from 6pm to 8.30pm.
Email Learn Hounslow or call them on 020 8583 6000 to book your place.
 Adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are invited to join free sessions at Hounslow Library, TW3 3EB on Thursday, 18 September to learn about employment opportunities in the NHS and healthcare sector. The session will take place in Classroom 1 between 4pm and 5pm.
The North West London Health and Social Care Skills Academy will share details about current job openings and an upcoming assessment day in October. Work Hounslow will also provide information on targeted support services for unemployed residents.
 Hounslow’s adult homecare services have all been rated Good after a recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
It's a remarkable achievement for all 12 services to achieve a Good rating and testament to the effective collaboration between the Council and a thriving mix of commissioned adult homecare services in Hounslow.
 Hundreds of residents enjoyed Hounslow’s third Health in the Park celebration at Isleworth Leisure Centre and Library last weekend.
Residents took part in sessions including Pilates, HIIT, lifesaving classes, swimming, boxing, and food preparation workshops.
Families also enjoyed activities for children, and many took the opportunity to join in health quizzes, wellbeing challenges, and the popular Health in the Park bingo prize draw.
Importantly, residents were able to access a range of free health checks on the day, helping to increase awareness of prevention, self-care, and support available locally.
 Hounslow has launched an all-age autism strategy. The five-year plan is being overseen by an Autism Partnership Board and involves seven sub-groups concerned with various priorities for the community.
The plan will be co-produced with autistic people and their carers, as well as partner agencies.
The Council is keen for members of Hounslow's autistic community to help co-produce and shape the all-age strategy in any way they can. If you’re interested, please e-mail Helen Taylor. You can also complete the consultation below.
Additionally, Autism Hounslow is having a coffee morning 10am Tuesday, 23 September at Ballucci Coffee Bar and Lounge in Hounslow. If you’re a parent or carer for a neurodivergent child please come along.
 Thinking of healthy snack ideas for children can be tricky, especially when fitting them around the school day. To help, Healthy Hounslow has put together some quick healthy after-school snack ideas.
It also runs Beezee Families, a free heathy lifestyle programme that nutritionists deliver in-person and online. The 12-week programme supports families to build healthy habits around food, physical activity, and have fun while doing so.
Sign-ups are open now, so parents can book today to secure their free spot.
 Hounslow's Health Outreach Team (HOT) will be out offering free blood pressure checks, BMI weight checks, balance checks for residents aged 60 plus, and advice on health concerns, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, stop smoking services, mental health services plus much more.
If you have any questions or comments about HOT's work, please email the Council's Public Health team.
HOT will be at the following locations this week:
- Thursday, 18 September – Holy Trinity Church - 11am to 3pm
- Friday, 19 September – Wellbeing Walk, Boston Manor Park - 11am to 12pm
- Friday, 19 September – Treaty Centre's Health Outreach Shop - 10am to 4pm
- Tuesday, 23 September – Tobacco Roadshow, Feltham Ponds - 11am to 5pm
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