A campaign to boost the wellbeing of residents and get them fitter has made healthy progress this year, according to the Erewash council team behind the drive.
There is now renewed motivation to do even more in 2024 – following successes in 2023 that have ranged from helping to organise fun days and walks to litter picks and family cook-and-eat sessions.
The mission of the Community Health and Wellbeing Development Team is to engage with local people to encourage them to get active. This can be through everyday activities like walking or by taking up any number of other beneficial physical activities.
As part of this, Community Wellness Networks have been set up in Kirk Hallam, Cotmanhay, Petersham, Sandiacre and Sawley. Projects have ranged from toddler groups and “plant-cook-eat-play” activities to bingo events.
In Kirk Hallam the service manages a programme of community sport aimed at young people. This has included football activity delivered by the Derby County Community Trust, boxing and multi-skills from Support Through Sport – plus girls’ skateboarding, archery and more.
Other schemes in the borough have included mentoring and activity programmes for ten to 16-year-olds who struggle with their mental health.
There have also been exercise programmes for more than 250 individuals who have been referred with long-term health issues. These are held at Ilkeston’s Rutland Sports Park and Long Eaton’s West Park Leisure Centre.
In addition there are now seven regular walking groups in the borough after two more were set up – one an evening stroll in Long Eaton and the other a longer trek in Ilkeston. In Long Eaton’s West Park a new interactive and “inclusive” story walk has been launched. It sees park users follow special markers.
A key partner for the council is Erewash Voluntary Action, which gets people to give up their time to help others. The organisation has joined with the authority to drive the Community Wellness Networks in Sandiacre and Sawley.
Chief executive Stella Scott said proudly: “I attend many strategic meetings in Erewash and Derbyshire, looking at ways the voluntary and community sector can be supported to grow and flourish.”
Councillor Claire Marie Poole, who is Erewash’s Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Our Community Health and Wellbeing Development Team has had an incredibly busy year. In the summer there were even holiday activity and food clubs for children who qualify for free school meals.
“The cost-of-living crisis has had an impact across the borough in terms of the mental health and wellbeing of struggling residents. The borough council is determined to do all it can to help.”