 Welcome to the November edition of the Healthy Telford newsletter
Join us for news about the launch of the "Ageing Well" Strategy in Telford and Wrekin and the continued success of projects such as Green Spaces Are Go and the Community Blood Pressure project. We'd also like to tempt you with a new Gentle Dance and Social group in Madeley and some free learning opportunities on the subjects of Type-2 Diabetes and Health Literacy.
So, take five minutes to get yourself a drink and find out what's going on to support your health and wellbeing in Telford and Wrekin this November.
And don't forget this month's quiz, a test of your knowledge about your immune system.
 The "Ageing Well" strategy pledges to help residents live well for longer
Telford & Wrekin Council, together with local partners, is launching a borough-wide “Ageing Well” strategy, focusing on the services and support that will help residents to live longer and enjoy healthy, independent lives as they approach older age.
The 2023-2033 “Ageing Well” strategy has been developed by the Council and its partners (local NHS, Forum 50+, Age UK, Healthwatch Telford & Wrekin and many others) following extensive engagement with borough people aged 50+, their family and carers.
Telford and Wrekin saw one of the largest increases in population aged 65 plus in England between the 2011 and 2021 Census, with an increase of 35.7%.
By 2032, there are projected to be around 42,300 adults aged over 65 plus living in Telford and Wrekin, a further increase of around 30% on the 2021 population.
Councillor Paul Watling (Labour), Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Systems said:
“We want people in our borough to live well and independently for longer, as they approach later life.
“Last year, through an “Ageing Well” consultation with local organisations, we have asked residents over the age of 50 to tell us what would help them to enjoy a healthier, happier life. Over 2,800 people took part and shared their views on a range of themes that impact on their wellbeing as they grow older.
“People’s views helped us and local partners to shape the "Ageing Well Strategy” for the next 10 years.
“This strategy is our council and our local partners’ commitment to support our residents on what matters most for them as they age, such as access to healthcare, accessible public transport, digital technology adoption, financial security, inclusive community activities and more.
“I am very much looking forward to working together with our partners, our residents and volunteers to drive this strategy forward and make Telford and Wrekin a great place to grow older in.”
Beverley Ashton, Ageing Well Partnership Board Volunteer said:
“I think it’s very important for residents to be involved in the strategies that the council is pulling together with local partners, and that affect communities.
“I’ve been pleased to have contributed to the “Ageing Well” strategy that will hopefully have a big and positive impact on the future of people of all ages, as they get older in Telford and Wrekin.”
For more information on the “Ageing Well” Strategy and to stay updated on its development, visit www.telford.gov.uk/ageingwell.
 Make the most of Telford's green spaces
There's still plenty of time to step outside and feel the difference of being active in nature with Green Spaces Are Go.
Research shows that exercising in nature is essential for improving wellbeing. It can reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and promote happiness.
“Green Spaces Are Go” is highlighting the health benefits of exercising in a park or green spaces and encourages people to be active in them.
We have 23 nature reserves and more than 300 green guarantee sites in Telford and Wrekin – free to all.
As taking part in activities in the beauty of nature can make exercise even better for you, we have organised a series of events to take place in Telford and Wrekin’s green spaces right until the end of the year.
Events include ‘Learn to Ride’ and ‘Cycle Confidence’ sessions, Cycling ‘Glow Rides’, nature walks and a Halloween event, practical conservation tasks, a Nordic Walk and strolls around Lilleshall, Newport and Lawley, Football or Parkour sessions for young people, orienteering and wildlife activities for young people with a disability or additional need, walks especially for men and veterans, and new bench to bench walks and geocaching trails.
#greenspacesarego
Free 6 Week Type 2 Diabetes Course
Do you want to learn more about how to manage this condition effectively? The X-PERT diabetes courses run by the Adult Community Diabetes Specialist Service can help!
They are running a 6 week course in Telford at Meeting Point House, Southwater Square, Telford Town Centre TF3 4HS which starts on Thursday 9 November 2023 9.30am to 12noon and then continues for the following five Thursdays (continuing dates: 16, 23, 30 November, 7 and 14 December).
If you would like more information or are interested in attending and want to book your place, please contact shropcom.xpertdiabetes@nhs.net or 01743 277696.
Visit the Adult Community Diabetes Specialist Service Facebook page and follow for more updates.
 Health literacy matters
Two free online workshops are available this November:
The first provides Health Literacy Awareness Training on Wednesday 15 November 2023 9am to 11am. In this 2 hour workshop the outcomes for attendees are to:
- Understand what health literacy is
- Appreciate what it might mean to have low levels of health literacy
- Know why it is important
- Know what others have done, and think about what you could do
- Learn about key tools, such as “Teachback” and writing for understanding
- Know how to sign up for the Health Literate Organisation journey.
Book your place on the Health Literacy Awareness Training via Eventbrite.
The second is a Health Literate Organisation Workshop on Tuesday 12 December, 9am to 12noon, in which you will receive advice, practical tools and examples, to become a ‘Health Literacy Champion’ in your team, department or organisation with the aim to:
- Improve written and verbal communication
- Increase staff health literacy knowledge and capability
- Re-evaluate the physical layout and signage within your organisation
- Establish your HLO goals and establish a baseline
- Develop a health literacy policy.
Book your place on the Health Literate Organisation Workshop via Eventbrite.
 Drop in and get your blood pressure checked
Having high blood pressure can lead to an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. So knowing your blood pressure numbers can save your life. Around 1 in 4 adults in the UK have high blood pressure, and, if you're over 40, you should get your pressure checked at least every five years.
The Community Blood Pressure Project is out and about in Telford visiting local venues and events to take blood pressure readings and raise awareness of why it's important to 'know your numbers'.
Visit the Healthy Telford blog to find out where our blood pressure checkers will be next.
 Get your groove on!
A new gentle fitness group has started up on Tuesdays 1.30pm to 2.30pm at The Anstice, Madeley TF7 5BB.
Dance is an incredible way to keep fit and have fun at the same time. If you’re looking for a dance class, where you can take things at your own pace, then look no further. Come along to the Gentle Dance and Social group to enjoy a variety of fun and easy to learn dance routines to your favourite feel good songs. The class is suitable for anyone looking for a low-medium impact activity in a relaxed and friendly environment. And there is an emphasis on making new friends as well as improving your physical and general wellbeing, so feel free to continue socialising at the onsite café after class!
Why not go along and try it out? You are guaranteed a warm welcome. The cost is £6 per class. You can pay as you go and there is no need to pre-book, just turn up if you want to have a go. (Reduced price block booking is also available).
Visit the Bhangra Dance and Fitness Facebook page for more information.
 Why not get out in the garden?
Research shows that exercising in nature is essential for improving wellbeing. It can reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and promote happiness.
So our “Green Spaces Are Go” campaign is highlighting the health benefits of exercising in a park or green space and encouraging people to be active in them.
But exercise in natural surroundings doesn’t have to just mean our parks, nature reserves and open spaces – it includes our gardens too.
Gardening is a great mood-boosting hobby that can also be a good workout too.
In fact research suggests that mowing, raking, digging, planting or weeding can be a good vigorous physical activity for young people and younger adults, and a low to moderate activity for older adults, so is suitable for all ages and abilities.
Gardening is good for muscle strengthening, for our joints and bones, and can burn as many as 330 calories per hour!
It’s so good for us because it uses all the major muscle groups, including our arms, legs, shoulders, back and abdomen, as well as improving mobility and endurance.
There’s plenty to do in our gardens in Autumn, like sweeping fallen leaves, spreading compost, planting trees and trimming back bushes and hedges.
Working with others in community gardens, orchards and nature reserves is good for us socially too, helping us to make new friends and prevent loneliness.
If you’re new to gardening it’s best to start off slowly, doing just short sessions at first and building up gradually.
And just like with all forms of exercise it’s good to do some warming up before gardening with some stretches or a short walk, and it’s important to bend at the knees if you’re lifting objects which feel heavy to you.
Also as with all forms of exercise, check with your GP beforehand if you’re new to exercise, have a health condition or mobility issue.
To help you take part in activities in the beauty of nature, which can make exercise even better for you, we have organised a series of events in Telford and Wrekin’s green spaces throughout the year – for details click on the button below.
#greenspacesarego
 The Healthy Families Team is part of the Healthy Lifestyle Service who support children and families to make behaviour changes that support lifestyle improvements. This includes providing advice and support about food and nutrition, and ways to become more active. We encourage families to think about healthy minds and bodies to create a balanced lifestyle.
This service is FREE to those who live, work or attend school within Telford and Wrekin and is delivered over six sessions via clinic based appointments or virtually online.
If you are concerned about your child’s weight and would like to live a healthier family life too, we are here to help you.
To arrange an appointment with one of our Healthy Families Practitioners you can call 01952 382582, or you can use the button below to book via our online form.
 Supporting good mental health with a cuppa and a chat
Mental health is equally as important as physical health and as our understanding of mental health improves so does our need to listen and support those who need our help.
So when World Mental Health Day took place on Tuesday 10 October, Madeley Town Council’s Community Library embraced this year’s theme and held a “tea and talk” morning.
The kettle was on, the computer was ignored, and those using the library were invited to join us for a cuppa and a chat. We even had Clare join us from Learn Telford with her card making crafts to give us something to do while chatting.
There were those who just wished to continue in the library as normal, others who chose to enjoy a drink while continuing, and those that joined us for a drink, a chat and some crafting. And do you know what? That choice gave everyone a relaxing morning, with no pressure to join and no judgement for not joining.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable morning all around, the chat was open and easy and if the very least we achieved was brightening someone’s morning with a hot drink and a smile then it was certainly worth it.
Madeley Town Council is looking to hold similar sessions on a more regular basis after the success of “tea and talk”, promoting the true value of community and the improvement to wellbeing it can bring.
Visit Madeley Town Council’s Facebook page and follow to keep an eye out for information about future sessions.
Alternatively, contact Charlotte Dade, Wellbeing Officer for Madeley Town Council at charlotte@madeleytowncouncil.gov.uk
 How switching to vaping can support your quit smoking journey
Nicotine vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking. However Vaping is not completely harmless and we only recommend it for adult smokers, to support quitting smoking and staying quit (it is against the law to sell or buy nicotine vaping products to under 18’s or for adults to buy on their behalf).
Switching to vaping significantly reduces your exposure to toxins that can cause cancer, lung disease and heart attack and stroke.
Once you have been vaping for a while and successfully stopped smoking, you should aim to quit vaping too. It’s best to do this gradually and the following will help:-
- Make a plan to know when you would like to quit your vape
- Contact your stop smoking service for behaviour support (01952 382582)
- Gradually reduce the strength of nicotine in your e liquid or use a reduced disposable vape.
- Extend the time between vaping – start with an hour and then extend.
- Set rules for yourself - only vape outside/or work breaks so you are not using all the time
- If your urge to smoke comes back increase your vape and if necessary you can use nicotine replacement therapy (ask a stop smoking advisor for advice around this)
- Speaking to a stop smoking advisor will really help to keep on target and achieve your aim to stay smoke free and vape free.
Being smoke free and vape free is an extremely rewarding feeling. This is what a client had to say when they were 11 weeks vape free using the Healthy lifestyle stop smoking service to quit their vape.
"It feels great if I'm honest, being able to just be me and not feel like I always have to depend on something to get me through the day is amazing, also with family life I feel now things can be normal and i won't feel ashamed as I won't be doing it any longer!"
Do not rush this process. Only reduce your vaping frequency or nicotine strength when you feel you will not go back to smoking and do not have to puff more to compensate.
 An evening with crime authors Diane Saxon and Sarah Ward
Visit Wellington Library, Larkin Way, Wellington TF1 1LX on Thursday 30 November at 6.30pm for an evening with crime authors Diane Saxon and Sarah Ward who will be discussing the shifting genre of crime. They will be talking about their own journeys as authors and answering questions from the audience. This is a free event, but must be pre-booked. Please let us know if you have any additional needs.
The Southwater Library VI Group
Southwater Library runs a monthly support group for people with sight loss and their carers. This group now meets on the the ground floor of Southwater, on the third Wednesday of every month from 1pm to 2pm, and is an opportunity to have a cuppa and a chat with like-minded people and find out what services the Library can offer you.
The next session will be on Wednesday 15 November, 1pm to 2pm.
 NHS says 'Help Us Help You'
Don’t carry the worry of cancer with you, if something in your body doesn’t feel right, contact your GP practice. Many people worry about cancer, but they sometimes put off getting checked because they hope the symptoms will go away or think they will get bad news.
Finding cancer early makes it more treatable and can save lives. It’s important that if you are worried about a symptom that could be cancer, to contact your GP practice. To rule out cancer, your GP may refer you for tests. Whatever the result, the NHS is there for you. Until you find out, you can’t rule it out.
Visit the NHS website for more information on cancer signs and symptoms.
 How much do you know about your immune system?
Winter is coming and with it a greater chance of catching colds, flu and Covid.
While most people know that their immune system is vital to their general health and well-being, many have no idea what it really does.
Take the quiz below to find out how much you know about your immune system.
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