Shropshire Health and Wellbeing Newsflash

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Read on for updates:

• Recognition for Shropshire Libaries' Dementia work
• Safer Care Shrewsbury, Telford & Wrekin
• Care Act Discussion at Whitchurch LJC
• Swimming Provision in Shrewsbury
• Forward Together Event
• Telford & Wrekin Alzheimer's Society
• Child Safety Week
• Monkmoor Big Family Event
• National Rural Crime Survey
• Updates from our Partners: Healthwatch Shropshire, VCSA and Freedom Shropshire
• Children's Race 4 Life and Fun Day

Dates for Your Diary:

• Child Safety Week, 1st-7th June 2015
• Carer's Week, 8th-14th June 2015
• BIG Family Event, 11th June 2015 at Shrewsbury Baptist Church, Crowmoor
• Men's Health Week, 15th-21st June 2015
• Care Act Discussion, 17th June 2015 at Whitchurch LJC
• Health & Wellbeing Board, 19th June 2015
• Children's Race 4 Life, Saturday 27th June 2015 at Shrewsbury Sports Village 
• Forward Together Showcase, 5th July 2015 at Shrewsbury Sports Village

Shropshire Libraries praised for work on Dementia

The Reading Agency has praised Shropshire Libraries for their work to help individuals with dementia and their carers. 

Branches in Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Ludlow, Bridgnorth, Market Drayton and Whitchurch now all offer 'Books on Prescription'. GPs can 'prescribe' self-help books to their patients, with topics covering dementia, anxiety, depression and other conditions. The Library teams have worked with Shropshire GP practices and community and care coordinators to promote the programme. Libraries are also working with Help2Change in Shropshire who are helping to fund the creation of 'Health Zones' in libraries. 

During Dementia Awareness Week in May, Shropshire Libraries held a  series of events across the county to increase awareness of dementia, as well as provide information and support to the public. The teams have also been working closely with Shropshire's Alzheimer's Society to get information about dementia out to Shropshire residents.

You can read the full article on The Reading Agency website here. The Reading Agency aims to 'inspire more people to read more'.

Find out more about the work being done by libraries to support health and wellbeing here. You can also find out about Library news and events on the Shropshire Libraries webpage.

Safer Care Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin

Safer Care Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin is about breaking the cycle to ensure that everyone receives safe and timely health and care.

All this week (June 1st to 8th), health and care staff will be sharing the work that they are doing to find ways to break out of their work cycle in order to improve the experience, safety and outcomes for patients and service users.

Find out how Shropshire Partners in Care (SPIC), one of Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin’s health and care organisations, is marking the week by reading this article.

You can follow the updates through Twitter: Follow @safercareSTW or search for the hashtag #safercareSTW          

Care Act on the agenda at Whitchurch LJC meeting 

At the next Whitchurch Local Joint Committee (LJC) meeting on 17th June 2015, there will be a special speaker from Shropshire Council to discuss the Care Act.

The speaker will be discussing the key changes that are being brought by the Care Act, providing information, clarification and will be on hand to answer any questions.

The meeting will take place at Higher Heath Village Hall, Twemlows Avenue, Higher Heath. Everyone is welcome to attend and doors to the public will open at 6.30pm.

To find out more about the meeting, please click here to see the full Shropshire Newsroom article.

To find out more about the Care Act, please click here to visit the Shropshire Council website.

Swimming Provision in Shrewsbury – Consultation

Shropshire Council is seeking your views on swimming provision in Shrewsbury.

Over recent years the condition of the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre has declined. In order to meet need and enhance experience, changes will need to be made. To decide the best course of action, Shropshire residents are invited to share their views on ideas to meet the changing leisure needs of the population.

Shropshire Council wants to hear your views, whether or not you use the facilities at the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre. To complete the consultation, find out more information and view the options, go to: http://new.shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved/swimming-provision-in-shrewsbury/

Child Safety Week

1st to the 7th June is national Child Safety Week. Shropshire Public Health team have been working with Shropshire Family Information Service to provide facts, tips and advice around preventing accidents.

Follow Shropshire Family Information on Facebook and Twitter to receive the updates.

Monkmoor BIG Family Event

The BIG Family Event is a fun-packed free afternoon providing information, guidance and activities for families and children. It is being held on Thursday 11th June 2015, 3pm-6pm at Shrewsbury Baptist Church, Crowmoor, Shrewsbury.

The event is being supported by the Shropshire Family Information Service, Children’s Centre services, West Mercia Police, Shrewsbury Baptist Church and Shropshire Fire & Rescue service. Shropshire Council’s leisure team will be offering a range of activities to keep children and young people entertained.

See Shropshire Newsroom for the full story.

National Rural Crime Survey

Have your say on the National Rural Crime Survey.

The National Rural Crime Network are asking for your views on policing and crime in rural areas. The Network said:

“In response to concerns from people living and working in rural areas, the National Rural Crime Network is launching the biggest ever survey of rural policing and crime.

In the face of shrinking budgets, it is important for us to better understand your experiences of policing and crime in your area.

By completing the survey, people can really have their say on how crime affects them and what they expect from local police and their partners involved in community safety.”

To take part in the survey and have your say, go to:  http://www.nationalruralcrimenetwork.net/research/internal/national-rural-crimes-survey-2015/

The survey will take around 10 minutes to complete and can be filled in anonymously.

The survey closes on Wednesday 24th June 2015.

Click here to find out more about the National Rural Crime Network.

Updates from our Partners:

Healthwatch Shropshire update

Healthwatch Shropshire have published their latest Spring 2015 Newsletter. Topics include a report published by Safe Ageing No Discrimination (SAND), local engagement news and other hot topics including food banks and Mental Health Awareness Week.

Click here to view the full newsletter. 

Research Grant

Healthwatch Shropshire have launched their third round of their Research Grants. They are offering community and voluntary sector organisations the opportunity to bid for funding of between £1,000 and £4,000 to undertake a piece of research.

More information and an application pack can be found at: http://www.healthwatchshropshire.co.uk/research-grant-2015-16

The closing date for application is Friday 28th August 2015.

VCSA Newsletter

The latest copy of the Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly (VCSA) Newsletter can be found here.

Have a look to find out information about Power to Change grants, the Young Good Citizen Award, and much more.

Freedom Shropshire Newsletter

Freedom Shropshire have published their Special Edition newsletter for June 2015.

Freedom Shropshire provides information and advice to people who are affected by domestic abuse, as well as relevant and up-to-date guidance and detail of services. This special edition newsletter covers the launch of the new ‘Domestic Abuse Strategy 2015-2017’, ongoing work on prevention and much more!

Click here to read the full newsletter.

Got some news to share?

If you have a topic or article that you would like to feature in this newsletter, please contact us by email: shropshiretogether@shropshire.gov.uk or telephone: 01743 253937.

Health and Wellbeing Board - Next Meeting:

The next public Health and Wellbeing Board meeting will be held on Friday 19th June 2015, 9.30am at Shirehall in Shrewsbury.

The agenda and relevant papers will become available on the Health and Wellbeing webpage prior to the meeting. Please see the attached link below to access previous meeting agendas:

Health and Wellbeing Board