Happy New Year!
 Welcome to the January edition of the Healthy Telford newsletter
Hello and Happy New Year! We hope you were all able to enjoy some downtime over the Christmas break and are feeling ready to face 2023. In the first couple of months of the year, after the excitement of the festive period, our energy levels can take a dip so it's important that we remain upbeat whilst also being kind to ourselves. This month's newsletter includes some activities and opportunities that we hope will inspire you.
And don't forget to take this month's quiz, which might help out with those resolutions you may be contemplating...
 Exercise doesn't have to mean sport - have you heard of Qigong?
During the last few editions of ‘Healthy Telford’ we’ve talked about how it’s generally well known that we all need to do plenty of exercise for our overall physical, mental and emotional health and well-being.
Over the last few months we’ve covered a few different forms of activity for those of us who don’t suit going to the gym or taking part in a competitive sport.
In this article we’re going to look at something very different - Qigong, which is one of the oldest forms of exercise in Chinese history.
You might know about Tai Chi, but it’s likely that you haven’t heard of Qigong, despite being one of the most popular exercises in the world today, practised by tens of thousands of people.
Qigong, also known as ‘Chi Kung’ or ‘Chi Gong’, dates back more than a thousand years, and although its health benefits are quite similar to Tai Chi, Qigong is easier to learn and more suitable for a wider variety of people.
But what is Qigong?
Qigong combines quiet meditation, controlled breathing and gentle movements, so is perfect for the body and our mental health.
Just like Tai Chi, Qigong is a mind and body workout, offering a practical, effective and long-term solution to the stress of modern living, despite its ancient roots.
Qigong is refreshing for the mind, energising for the body, plus is relaxing and uplifting all at the same time.
One of the main attractions of Qigong is that it is easy to learn, and can be adapted to suit people’s different abilities, no matter their fitness level or age - Qigong can be performed walking, standing, sitting or even lying down.
Many people find that Qigong helps them increase their well-being, combat stress and tension, and improve their health in many ways, including balance, strength, concentration, memory, suppleness and flexibility.
In a similar way to Tai Chi, because Qigong helps improve balance and posture, it can be an effective exercise for falls prevention for mature people as well as improving inner core strength for the young.
Fancy giving Qigong a go? If so, here’s your chance!
There’s an online course with The Chinese Cultural Centre starting on 3 January 2023 until the end of March, every Tuesday morning from 8 to 8.30am.
A really perfect way to start the day!
To find out more details and to book a place email info@healthqigong.org.uk or visit https://healthqigong.org.uk/
 Coming to a community near you this January
Betty the Vaccination Bus will be at the following venues in early January offering the COVID Autumn Booster to anyone over the age of 50 years or anyone who is immunosuppressed.
Wednesday 4 January 10am to 2pm at The Anstice, Madeley TF7 5BB.
Thursday 5 January 10am to 2pm at Arleston Community Centre, St Giles Close, Wellington TF1 2AB.
Visit the Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin NHS website for further dates and venues where you can get your COVID vaccinations and/or Boosters.
 Do you want to improve your overall health and wellbeing?
2023 could be your year to make changes that can last a lifetime, so join thousands of others who have improved their health via the Let’s Get Telford Healthy programme. Signing up could not be easier and the best part is that it is FREE!
Joining the Let’s Get Telford Healthy programme will give you access to specialist support and advice from our Healthy Lifestyle Service straight to your inbox.
For 12 weeks you will receive a weekly topical email which includes videos from our specialist practitioners, helpful links, tasks to help you reach your goal and a Friday Tips email as you head into the weekend to help you start on track.
Topics include:
- Planning & goal setting
- Food & nutrition
- Physical activity
- Workplace wellbeing
- Sleep and much more
Start your journey to a healthier you, sign up to a resolution we can help you achieve by clicking on the button below.
 Building the B-Lines in Telford
Telford has some very special green spaces where you can go for peace and quiet, and where wildlife thrives. These places are so important for our health and wellbeing, but also provide a crucial oasis for our wildlife.
The challenges that many species are facing is that places like this are dwindling, they are either built on or forgotten about and left to become dominated by bramble, gorse and trees. This means that some wildlife becomes increasingly isolated, trapped in small patches of habitat.
This project aims to help create ‘stepping-stones’ of habitat for our wildlife to be able to move to search for food, nesting sites and a mate. We are focussing in on pollinators: butterflies, bees, wasps, flies and many others, and working to make our countryside and towns easier for them to move around in. It all contributes to the B-Lines mission to link up habitat patches all across the UK to help our wildlife to move.
Now bramble, gorse and trees are certainly not bad things, but lots of pollinators need bare ground for nesting and basking, and plenty of flowers for feeding. We are working on four sites in Telford – Langley Fields, Manor Road pitmound, Granville Country Park and Stoney Hill, where we will be controlling scrub, seeding heather and plug planting wildflowers. We would love people to get involved, whether it be helping us with this work or coming along to one of our guided walks or nature connection events. If you would like to know more please contact Project Officer Kate Jones at Kate.jones@buglife.org.uk
Visit the BugLife website to find out more about B-Lines.
 Access Trained Peer Support and Meet Other Parents
The Breastfeeding Network in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin offers two face to face support groups each week. Meet our trained breastfeeding peer supporters, ask questions, get support or just come for a friendly chat.
The Telford group meets every Tuesday 10am to 12noon at Dawley Town Hall, New Street, Dawley TF4 3JR
The Shrewsbury group meets every Thursday 10am to 12noon at Sunflower House, Kendal Road, Shrewsbury SY1 4ES
The National Breastfeeding Helpline 0300 100 0212 is also open every day between 9.30am and 9.30pm.
 Do you provide exercise sessions for pregnant women and new mothers?
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital (SaTH), and the Public Health Teams of Telford & Wrekin Council and Shropshire Council, are on the lookout for local providers of exercise sessions for pregnant women and new mothers.
Maternity healthcare professionals tell us about the importance of a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy, including a healthy diet and being active. Yet at the moment there are not many exercise classes especially for pregnant women and new mothers locally. So a search is on for individuals, groups or organisations across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin who offer exercise sessions for pregnant women and new mothers.
SaTH would also like to hear from you if you do not currently offer these sessions but would like to do so, or if you may consider offering them in the future. If so, SaTH, Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council can work with you to see what we can develop together for exercise sessions for local pregnant women and new mothers.
Interested? If so, please email Vicky Birch, the Public Health lead Midwife for Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital, via victoria.birch1@nhs.net
PLEASE NOTE: providers of physical activity sessions for pregnant women and new mothers must hold a qualification in Level 3 in adapting exercise for Antenatal and Post Natal Clients or be willing to undertake such training to be eligible.
 Telford Bike Hub 2023
The Bike Hub in Telford Town Park is currently closed for Winter. However, this year it will open for 3 weekends ahead of its usual reopening at Easter:
Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 January 2023
Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 February 2023
Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 March 2023
During these 3 weekends we will be providing a free Dr Bike maintenance service on Saturdays. Bring your Bike down to the Bike Hub and our qualified mechanic can check your bike is in a roadworthy condition as well as making any simple repairs and adjustments.
If you would like to learn how to keep on top of your own bike repairs, why not book on to one of our Bike Maintenance sessions. This will give you the knowledge and confidence to make simple repairs, give you a greater understanding of how your bike functions and ensure its always in a roadworthy condition.
Learn to Ride sessions for children are also available to book over the three weekends. These sessions are designed to improve balance and co-ordination as well as developing key motor skills. Which give the rider the confidence to ride a two-wheeled bike independently.
Further details on how to book the Bike Maintenance and Learn to Ride sessions will be coming soon.
Please check our webpage for updates.
Telford Bike Hub is located in Telford Town Park next to the visitor centre.
 The BookTrust Storytime Prize
Reading is a wonderful way to escape from the stresses of the day, for children just as it is for adults, and curling up with a loved one and a book can be very soothing for many children. As well as the educational benefits of learning to read, books are a valuable tool in promoting good mental health from an early age. Through reading children explore and learn about their own emotions by observing how the characters experience them. It also enables them to see the world through other people’s eyes. This plays a huge role in your child developing empathy for others.
The BookTrust Storytime Prize, which is in its fourth year, celebrates and promotes the best books for sharing with children under five and is part of the BookTrust Storytime pilot.
To find out all about the shortlisted books, and how you can vote for your favourite, come along to one of our three sessions for babies and children under five and their parents and carers:
Monday 16 January 10.30 to 11.30am at Wellington Library
Monday 23 January 10.30 to 11.30am at Southwater Library
Wednesday 25 January 10.30 to 11.30am at Newport Library
Voting will close on 31 March 2023.
 Do you know someone who does?
Have you ever thought about working for yourself as an independent care provider? Are you interested in becoming self-employed, or running your own business?
Care is changing and there are many alternatives to traditional care like being a Personal Assistant (PA) or a Micro Provider.
Come along to the Independent Living Centre, Unit 3A, Hazeldine House, Telford Town Centre TF3 4JL on Monday 16 January 2023 between 10am and 4pm to find out more. You can book a slot or just drop by on the day.
We can advise & support you to become a carer or even think about being your own boss as a Micro Provider. This puts you in control of your work load and means you have a consistent client base who you can really get to know.
Visit the Micro Provider page on the Live Well Telford website for more information.
Alternatively, contact Mark on 07929 711070 or by emailing Mark.Ferguson@telford.gov.uk
 At the Anstice in Madeley
Your New Year's Resolutions start here! The Anstice has a growing range of classes to help you get more active, learn new skills and meet new people. From Tai Chi to Beginners Computing classes, there really is something for everyone.
On Tuesdays there's Tai Chi, an Over-50s Computer drop-in, a Youth Club during term time, and Ballroom Dancing in the evening. Wednesdays offer Line Dancing, Thursdays are for Slimming World and Baby Bounce and Rhyme, and Fridays are all about winding down and getting creative with some Card Making.
So make a resolution to check out what's happening at the Anstice the next time you're nearby.
Visit the Anstice's website for further information on these sessions and more.
Alternatively, you can call 01952 567230.
 What's holding you back?
No doubt with the arrival of the New Year you have made, or thought about making, a resolution or two. It can be difficult, however, to bring the same level of energy and excitement about new goals week after week, month after month. Understanding what it is that holds you back and what motivates you to push on can help, so this month's quiz is here to help you learn just that.
Click on the button below to find out where you slip up when making New Year's resolutions and how you can help yourself to succeed.
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