 Welcome to the March edition of the Healthy Telford newsletter
It may still be cold, but Spring is on its way and already we're seeing lighter evenings and longer days. In the coming month we're going to start seeing signs of life and greenery return, so there's no better time to get out in your local green space. Or perhaps you want to do a little more in your community? We've got you covered with some new and some ongoing opportunities across the borough.
So claim a few minutes for yourself, grab a drink and find out what's going on to support your health and wellbeing in Telford and Wrekin this month.
And don't forget this month's quiz, which asks you: where's your time going?
 Loneliness is a part of life. Let's talk about it.
We're all affected by loneliness at times in our lives. We can feel lonely in a busy city or rural location, on social media or spending time on our own or with others. Sometimes admitting we feel lonely can be hard. It’s important to remember that lots of people experience similar feelings of loneliness, and that they can pass.
Understanding our own reasons for feeling lonely can help identify and manage these feelings.
If you are feeling lonely, or know someone else who is, there are plenty of simple, affordable actions you can take, such as:
- going for a walk with someone
- inviting someone out for a coffee and a chat
- finding out about affordable (or free) events nearby
- going along to a gym class or playing in a sports team
- joining a society or local community group to meet like-minded people
- reaching out to those around you so you can both feel the benefits of in-person social connection.
Visit the Every Mind Matters website to find more support and advice on loneliness and mental wellbeing.
 Why not sign up to be a Health Champion!
Telford & Wrekin Council are on the lookout for new volunteers to support both a new Community (Health) Hub in Madeley & South East Telford, and the continuation of the Community Blood Pressure Project. Training for both is provided.
Health Champions are local community volunteers who care about the health and wellbeing of those around them. They can use their own knowledge, skills, training and life experiences to make positive changes within their workplaces, social and family circles and their community and help others to enjoy healthier lives by:
- raising awareness of healthy choices
- sharing important health-related messages
- helping to address barriers to accessing health services
- creating supportive networks.
There are lots of exciting roles available and in South East Telford new opportunities will be coming up to help out with the creation of the new Community Hub, which will be a place that local residents can come to for advice and support around a wide range of health and wellbeing matters.
We’re looking for people willing to give a little of their time to ‘meet and greet’ visitors to the hub, help with signposting them to the relevant service, provide blood pressure checks, and much, much more.
Being a Health Champion is a great way to use and build on your skills, give back, make new connections in your community and get out and about in your local area.
If you are interested in becoming a Health Champion, please email Telford Health Champions on health.champions@telford.gov.uk to find out more.
Making Every Contact Count training session
We will be hosting a Making Every Contact Count session for new Health Champions. A face to face training session will take place at Jubilee House, Madeley TF7 5AH, on Wednesday 20 March between 9.30am to 12 noon.
***There will also be an online session on XXX Chloe to inform us of date.
Use the button below to book? Or to participate in this training please contact XXX ***
 Please share your thoughts about Sutton Hill Community Centre
Hub on the Hill Community Centre in Sutton Hill has recently been taken over by Madeley Town Council after the Charity running the building decided to step down.
Existing groups that use the facilities will continue to be supported, the community café will remain open and the Hub will still be a safe space for local residents to visit and get support if needed.
However, in order to keep the building open long term it requires significant funding to make essential renovations. This will ensure the building becomes sustainable for the long-term benefit of the local community. There is the opportunity to apply for funding to complete these works through the Community Ownership Fund.
Madeley Town Council is currently working with Telford & Wrekin Council to put in an application and as part of this they want to hear from local residents and partners what you think about the facility. Your feedback will be used to help inform the application and support any decision making about its future use.
It will be really helpful to get as many comments as possible as this will enable us to demonstrate to funders the importance of the Hub on the Hill for the community of Sutton Hill.
The button below takes you to a survey which will take between 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
Thank you for your time and support.
 Talking is important
Spotting cancer early saves lives. That's where Cancer Champions come in. These volunteers empower and encourage people in their community to take up cancer screening, building the role into their everyday life, whether at home, with friends, or at work. No previous experience is necessary to become a Champion, just a willingness to spread the word.
The next Cancer Champion training session in Telford will be on Wednesday 20 March 9.30am to 12.30pm at Admaston House Community Centre, Wellington Road TF5 0BN.
To check availability and to book your place, call 01743 492396 or email hello@cancerchampions.co.uk
Visit the Cancer Champions website for more information about their campaign.
 Why not combine learning and leisure during a walk in the local area?
Learn Telford is offering a free Steps to Wellbeing session as part of the Multiply campaign. This learning session provides an opportunity to explore the green spaces of Randlay Valley Local Nature Reserve, enjoying a leisurely 1-2 mile guided walk with a friendly Learn Telford tutor.
Session details:
This is a single-session course, that will take place on Tuesday 12 March, from 9:15am to 12.15pm in Randlay Valley Nature Reserve, starting off from Hollinswood Pavilion TF3 2EW.
The walk will follow designated footpaths and walking routes and are mainly on hard surface paths with some small gradients. The paths can get muddy in wet weather so sturdy shoes are advisable.
The course is part of the Multiply Skills for Life offer, so a free pedometer will be provided to enable you to count your steps along the way, and at the end of the walk there will be light refreshments at Hollinswood Pavilion and an opportunity to reflect on the activities and achievements.
During the course you will:
- socialise with others in a supportive and friendly group environment
- go outdoors to explore the walks at Randlay Valley
- use your free pedometer to count your steps
- share ideas about how to keep active after the course finishes.
What is Multiply?
Multiply is the government funded campaign within the Skills for Life Strategy aimed at supporting adults to improve their skills and confidence with everyday maths. Multiply offers easy access to free courses and initiatives where you can build your confidence in using numbers at work or in everyday life, or even gain a qualification.
Visit the Skills for Careers website to find out more about the Multiply campaign
Use the button below to visit the Learn Telford website for more information about this session and to register your interest. Alternatively, you can call Learn Telford on 01952 382888, or email support@learntelford.ac.uk
 Support service on your doorstep
Madeley Community Library has been growing over the year to offer a number of drop-in sessions to give the community access to advice and guidance more locally. Madeley Town Council is delighted to have secured a new monthly service to add to this offer.
The library will be welcoming Community Resource with their Hearing Loss Support Hubs. These hubs, staffed by volunteers, enable people with a hearing aid from Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals Audiology department to collect batteries, have the tubes changed and learn about how to care for their device without having to visit the hospital.
Hearing Loss Support Hub volunteers will be in the library on the second Thursday of each month between 10am and 12noon, starting from 14 March.
How to book this service
Unlike the majority of library drop-in sessions, people will need to make an appointment for the service. This can be easily done either by calling 01743 342168 or emailing SHLS@community-resource.org.uk
 Pedal power!
This Easter holiday it’s all about cycling at Telford Bike Hub! With Bikeability cycle training, Learn 2 Ride sessions and Urban Games drop-ins, you’re bound to have a ‘wheelie’ good time!
Learn 2 Ride
Learn to ride a bike with the help of Telford Bike Hub's patient and knowledgeable instructors. Whether your child is just starting out on their two wheeled adventure or they have been practicing on a balance bike, the Hub instructors can help build their confidence and develop the skills needed to ride a two-wheeled bike unaided.
Bikeability
Can your child ride a bike confidently? Are they aged 9 or above? Then why not take part in our two-day Bikeability course! This cycle training programme is split into two levels over consecutive days:
- Level 1 teaches children how to make sure their bike is ready to ride, how to pass obstacles safely and confidently, how to control their bike and even feel confident cycling one handed!
- Level 2 is the next step – cycling on the road. This is an essential life skill and by the end of the course children will have had the opportunity to negotiate quiet junctions, pass stationary vehicles, learn about road positioning and markings as well as starting and stopping with more confidence.
- Why not give your child the opportunity to become a more confident and competent cyclist this Easter, opening up a world of opportunity, freedom and adventure using pedal power!
Use the button below to visit the Tickets Telford website for further information, booking and timeslots for both the Learn 2 Ride and Bikeability sessions.
 A physical activity project for people with dementia and their carers
Telford & Wrekin Council’s Public Health team are currently putting together a project to provide physical activities for people with dementia and their carers.
The project will provide group activity sessions in community venues, led by a qualified instructor, which will include some social time and refreshments.
The project will also provide activities especially for people with early onset dementia, plus link to an offer providing physical activities in the home setting for people with dementia and their carers who are not able to get to group sessions.
Another important part of the project will be training for any staff or professionals who work with people with dementia or their carers, on the importance of physical activity and how to have sensitive and meaningful conversations about it. Also training for physical activity instructors who work in the community on how to make their sessions more accessible and inclusive for people with dementia. Lastly workshops are being planned for carers, to teach them simple exercises they can do with the people they care for, in between sessions.
To help people with dementia and their carers to attend the group sessions if they’re able, it’s hoped that a ‘buddy system’ will be included as part of the project, to connect people together and give them the initial support and confidence they need to access sessions.
It’s hoped that the grant funding will be gained to run the project from this summer, which will also include measuring success through collecting data and evaluating feedback from people involved.
Lots of different organisations are supporting the development and design of the project including ALOC, Alzheimer’s Society, Community Learning & Employment, Dementia Care Partnership Group, Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, the Dementia Carer Group for Telford and Wrekin, Adult Social Care, Forum 50+, Age UK STW, STW Dementia Action Alliance, Energize STW, Elevate, Dementia UK, Fit4All, The Dementia Assessment and Support Service, Telford Patients First, plus local activity providers.
How can you help?
To help finish off the planning stage of the project, we’re very interested in connecting with specialist health professionals, GPs and ex-carers, for their support and input.
If you’d like to be involved and share your views, please email Diana West, Health Improvement Practitioner for Healthy and Active Communities, Health Improvement Team via diana.west@telford.gov.uk
 Is it time for you to quit?
Wednesday 13 March is this year's No Smoking Day and if you've been thinking about quitting, there's no time like right now. And you don't have to go it alone - the Healthy Lifestyles' Stop Smoking Advisors are there to keep you motivated and support you on your stop smoking journey.
Smoking and asthma
There’s currently no cure for asthma, but treatment can help control the symptom’s so you’re able to live a normal, active life. Inhalers are the main treatment, and tablets or other treatments may also be needed if your asthma is severe.
If you smoke and have asthma it can lead to your symptoms becoming more frequent, can restrict your level of activity and reduce your quality of life. Smoking irritates the lungs and destroys their natural ability to filter out germs and other irritants. Stopping smoking can reduce the symptoms of asthma and make the use of asthma medication more effective.
Jenny's story
Jenny is 49 years old and was referred to the Stop Smoking Service via her respiratory nurse. She started smoking at the age of 15 when she helped herself to one of her father’s cigarettes without him knowing. Like many teenagers she didn't like it, but she thought it made her look cool so she carried on. She tried several times to quit since then, but always ended up going back to smoking.
This New Year Jenny was determined to quit for good. With help and support from her family and from the Healthy Lifestyles Stop Smoking Service she decided that 1 January 2024 was going to be her quit date and she's not looked back. As of this week she has not smoked for 9 weeks, and reports hardly ever using her inhalers now - some nights not needing to use them at all. She also says she has more energy and wakes in the morning feeling far more refreshed, has a better sense of taste and smell and feels fitter!
When asked by her Stop Smoking Advisor what she would say to her 15-year-old self she said:
"I would say…'Don’t be an idiot, put it out and don’t start smoking!'
No one made me do it but I really wish I had never started, I never want to go back to smoking.”
The Stop Smoking Service is here to help
If you have Asthma or COPD and would like support to quit smoking please give the Healthy Lifestyles Team a call or use the button below to complete their online referral form. Stop Smoking Advisors understand that everyone's needs are different and they are there to help you quit and stay quit.
You can also call 01952 382582 or email healthylifestyles@telford.gov.uk
 Are you getting out and about?
As we head towards Spring, why not get outside and enjoy the finer weather in one of the many green spaces, parks or nature reserves we have in Telford and Wrekin?
Research tells us that ‘green exercise’ and health are closely linked. Studies comparing indoor exercise versus outdoor activity in natural environment like a park or nature reserve, show us that outdoor activity in a natural or green environment gives us a much greater feeling of being revitalised and positive!
So visit the Green Spaces Are Go webpage on the Healthy Telford blog to find out more about the outdoor gyms, self-guided walks, cycling, friends of groups and the parks and green spaces near you.
We’d love to know how you use our parks and green spaces in the borough to be active. Please use the button below to take part in our short survey.
 Drop in and get your blood pressure checked
There are no clues to having high blood pressure (hypertension). We don’t think we are at risk as we don’t have any symptoms. We think we would know if something was wrong with our health. There is a strong belief that hypertension has symptoms, especially fast heartbeat, palpitations, dizziness and severe headaches. With a lack of any noticeable symptoms of high blood pressure leads us to believe that ‘if I don’t feel ill, then all must be well’
However, there are consequences that high blood pressure can have if left untreated, increasing your risk of a number of serious and potentially life threatening health conditions, such as heart attacks, stroke and dementia.
So knowing your blood pressure numbers can save your life. Around 1 in 4 adults in the UK have high blood pressure. Some people are more likely to have undiagnosed hypertension, for instance if you are over 55, or over 40 and living with obesity, or drinking alcohol nearly every day, living in deprivation or from a South Asian or Black Caribbean origin. If this is you, then it's more important to get yourself checked.
Where can you get checked?
Blood pressure checks are being offered through our Community Blood Pressure Project which is out and about in Telford visiting local venues and events:
Visit the Healthy Telford blog to find out where our blood pressure checkers will be next.
And local community pharmacies are also offering blood pressure checks:
Visit the NHS website to find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks.
Checks are free, quick and easy. Whilst high blood pressure is serious it is treatable with medication and/or lifestyle changes.
 A simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services
Millions of people are already using the NHS App to manage their health the easy way from the comfort of their homes. If you are over the age of 16 the NHS App enables you to view your GP health record to help you better understand and manage your condition, without having to phone your GP surgery. With the App you can access your consultation notes, letters and test results.
The NHS App also enables you to manage repeat prescriptions and easily change your nominated pharmacy, so you can send orders when it’s
convenient for you. Each prescription ordered electronically saves GP practices three minutes of time and a patient 18 minutes, making it more
convenient for people and freeing up frontline staff to do other important duties.
The App makes it easy to access your appointment information and manage your hospital appointments. You can also find out your NHS number and access NHS 111 online to get instant advice or medical help near you.
New and innovative features will continue to be developed for the NHS App to help patients access convenient and high-quality care when and where they need it.
 What stops you making the most of your time?
Do you ever feel like you should be able to get more done in a day? Do you find yourself frustrated by your never-ending 'To Do' list?
There are many reasons for time anxieties. Get some insight into how you use your time now and how you might make the most of it in future with this short quiz.
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