Active Travel is challenging Sefton residents to take part in its Summer Challenge Walk on Tuesday, 28 August.
The 10-mile walk through the woods and sand dunes between Freshfield and Ainsdale is all off road, along woodland trails and sandy paths. Some of the route will include slopes (up and down), with a few sand dunes and paths to hike over but they are gentle and there are stiles to step over.
Active Travel is asking people to join in saying it is a chance to make new friends and get a little exercise too.
Time/Place: 10.15am meet at Freshfield Train Station.
Anyone interested in taking part are advised to bring a packed lunch.
For further information, contact Steph on 0151 934 2824.
Living Well Sefton is supporting this Bank Holiday weekend’s Bootle Music Festival.
The two-day family music event has been put together by SAFE Regeneration, a not-for-profit company with a focus on benefiting the local community.
Bootle Music Festival will celebrate original art through live music, visual artists and craftsmen as well as good food and real ale. A ‘wellbeing zone’ will include a climbing wall, inflatable assault course, canoeing sessions, yoga, meditation, zendoodling and more.
Living Well Sefton mentors and its partners The May Logan, Feelgood Factory and Brighter Living Partnership will be there on the Saturday with the smoothie-making bike and are ready to chat about how they can support you in achieving a healthy lifestyle.
Music acts for the Saturday include Hue & Cry and The Real People plus support acts on both days offering a range of music from ABBA tribute band to gospel choirs.
The event is set on the banks of the historic Liverpool-Leeds canal at Lock & Quay, 2 Irlam Road, Bootle, L20 4AH which was bought by SAFE two years ago. The disused pub was developed into a community hub, hosting many events, with a focus on live music.
Online ticket rate is £10 per person for weekend or £6 per person on the gate per day. Under 10s are free to enter.
For more details on booking tickets visit the Eventbrite page.
However you are planning to enjoy the long weekend, the local NHS has some useful information for how to take care of yourself in case of illness or injury.
Debbie Fagan, chief nurse for NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said: “Most minor illnesses and ailments can be effectively treated at home with a well stocked medicine cabinet at any time of year but remember to store things like painkillers and antihistamines safely and out of the reach of young children. Your local pharmacist will be happy to advise you about the over-the-counter preparations that can help.”
She added: “If you’re out and about over the bank holiday weekend, you could add a small first aid kit to your bag or the boot of the car, just in case. Drinking plenty of water and protecting yourself from the sun are also simple ways to take care of yourself.”
Although GP practices will not be open on Monday 27 August, some local pharmacies will be open if you do need help unexpectedly. Pharmacists can give advice and suggest treatments for a range of minor illnesses and injuries. With no appointment necessary, you can get back to enjoying your weekend rather than waiting to see a GP.
You can visit the CCG websites to see which pharmacies will be open this bank holiday:
You can also find details of other services that can help if you’re unwell, including walk in centres and NHS 111, which is available anytime and for free by calling 111 and also now available online at www.111.nhs.uk
More than 100 people whose lives have been affected by cancer have been learning about the local support available to them at an ‘invaluable’ event in Southport.
The health and wellbeing event was organised by the Southport Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre in conjunction with NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, held at the Royal Clifton Hotel and provided an afternoon of information for local people.
Hannah Bland from Sefton Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) was a guest speaker talking about the role of ‘community connectors’. These volunteers work to reduce social isolation by supporting people to access local groups and organisations and help them to become more involved in their local community.
Those attending the health and wellbeing event said they benefited from hearing from other people affected by cancer and sharing ideas, as well as the two breakout sessions on ‘the fear of recurrence’ and ‘the importance of self-management’, which were led by local healthcare professionals.
The range of support available locally for people was displayed on more than 30 market place stalls that people were invited to browse. Stallholders ranged from the clinical nurse specialists from Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust and Aintree Hospital NHS Trust, to support groups, voluntary organisations and other services that can help people live with and beyond cancer.
Going beyond physical health, visitors were treated to a mini-makeover provided by Boots No7 or a hand massage courtesy of Sefton OPERA. Taking time to care for your mental wellbeing is just as important as physical treatment.
Volunteer David Lees at the health and wellbeing event organised by the Southport Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre in conjunction with NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust
One of those patients who attended the event said: “Whether it’s your first time of going or your third, you always get to hear new information and help which can only be a good thing.
“These events are invaluable as you can speak to specialists and ask questions which you may have forgotten to ask a doctor or consultant.
“It’s good that friends, family and carers can go to these events as they too can get help and advice and without these events where could they turn to.”
Graeme Allan, primary care cancer lead and Macmillan GP at NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said: “It’s great to see so many people coming to find out about the local services available to them.
“Cancer touches so many people’s lives and it’s important that we support people as they go through treatment, or are caring for someone else who is.
“I want to thank The Southport Macmillan Centre staff and volunteers, Sefton CVS, our local Trust and everyone else who helped bring this day together.”
The next health and wellbeing event promises to be even better as the focus of the afternoon will be all about living life and having fun. The staff at the centre will be combining this event with the Christmas fair so there will be plenty to see and do. More details will be released later in the year.
Health commissioners are inviting Southport and Formby residents to come to their ‘Annual Review meets Big Chat’ event on Tuesday 11 September 2018.
NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is combining its annual review meeting with a ‘Big Chat’ style event, and this year will also be celebrating 70 years of the NHS.
As well as finding out about the CCG’s performance and achievements over the past 12 months, the event is a chance for residents to give their views about the organisation’s latest work to shape services.
This year the event will include a marketplace with a range of health and wellbeing related stalls that people can browse ahead of the start of the main programme, which will combine a mix of presentations and interactive, table-based discussions.
Dr Rob Caudwell, chair of the CCG, said: “This will be our 10th ‘Big Chat’ event in Southport and Formby. We really value the feedback and suggestions we gather from all those who come along to the events, so we hope to welcome many local people to our annual review.”
NHS Southport and Formby CCG invite you to their Big Chat event (picture taken at last year’s event). From left: Tracey Forshaw, Fiona Taylor, Anne-Marie Morrison (Sefton CVS), Dr Rob Caudwell, Jan Leonard, Susanne Lynch
He added: “We are also hosting a marketplace, where colleagues and partners from neighbouring health organisations will have information stalls promoting a range of local health services.”
Copies of the CCG’s annual report and accounts for 2017-2018 will also be available for people to take away.
The event begins at 1pm with a marketplace and refreshments, with the main agenda taking place from 2pm to 4.30pm at The Royal Clifton Hotel, One the Promenade, Southport, PR8 1RB. The marketplace and refreshments will be available from 1pm.
Anyone who would like to come along is asked to confirm their attendance, along with any special requirements they may have, by calling 0151 317 8456 or emailing southportandformby.ccg@nhs.net
The school summer holidays are a chance to relax, sleep in, and enjoy a break from homework, but it’s best to maintain some routines to stay healthy and avoid a ‘shock to the system’ come September.
Debbie Fagan, chief nurse at NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said: “Routines such as regular bedtimes and mealtimes are important for keeping your children on the right learning path.
“Studies show that memory, learning, attention, mood, behaviour and physical health are all improved through sleep.”
Here are some top tips for healthy eating and drinking during the summer holidays:
There’s room for occasional treats during the holidays but it can get expensive to keep buying a round of ice creams for the whole family – try to plan ahead and take some healthier snacks with you on a day out.
Try to limit your intake of sugary drinks – even fruit juices contain sugar. Water is the healthiest option and the best for rehydration on a hot day. You can make the drinks more appealing to kids by adding novelty ice cubes or chopped fruit and cucumber.
Debbie added: “Eating healthily, regular exercise and good sleep all go hand-in-hand and will make the summer holidays more enjoyable and stress-free for the whole family.”
Regular physical activity lasting 45 minutes three to five times a week can reduce poor mental health – but doing more than that is not always beneficial, a large US study suggests.
A total of 1.2 million people reported their activity levels for a month and rated their mental wellbeing.
People who exercised had 1.5 fewer “bad days” a month than non-exercisers, the study found.
Team sports, cycling and aerobics had the greatest positive impact.
All types of activity were found to improve mental health no matter people’s age or gender, including doing the housework and looking after the children.
The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry Journal, is the largest of its kind to date but it cannot confirm that physical activity is the cause of improved mental health.
Previous research into the effects of exercise on mental health have thrown up mixed results, and some studies suggest that lack of activity could lead to poor mental health as well as being a symptom of it.
Exercise is already known to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Adults taking part in the study said they experienced on average 3.4 days of poor mental health each month. For those who were physically active, this reduced to only two days.
Among people who had been diagnosed previously with depression, exercise appeared to have a larger effect, resulting in seven days of poor mental health a month compared with nearly 11 days for those who did no exercise.
How often and for how long people were active was also important.
Being active for 30 to 60 minutes every second day came out as the optimal routine.
But there could be such a thing as doing too much exercise, the study concluded.
Dr Adam Chekroud, study author and assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale University, said: “Previously, people have believed that the more exercise you do, the better your mental health, but our study suggests that this is not the case.
“Doing exercise more than 23 times a month, or exercising for longer than 90-minute sessions is associated with worse mental health.”
He said the positive impact of team sports suggested that social sports activities could reduce isolation and be good for resilience, while also reducing depression.
The findings back up government guidelines recommending that people should do 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
But the study has some limitations. It is based on self-reporting, which is not always accurate, and there is no way of measuring physical activity.
Dr Dean Burnett, neuroscientist and honorary research associate, from the school of psychology at Cardiff University, said the link between exercise and mental health had been difficult to pin down but this large study “strongly suggests that there is a definite association between the two”.
“However, the nature of the study means it’s difficult to say more than that with any real certainty,” he said.
Prof Stephen Lawrie, head of psychiatry at the University of Edinburgh, said it indicated that social and “mindful” exercise is particularly good for mental health – but not if it is overdone.
“I suspect we all know people who seem ‘addicted’ to exercise and if this starts to impact on other aspects of life – like foregoing social activities because one has to be up at the crack of dawn to run several miles – it might actually be bad for people,” he added.
With the prevalence of services being offered online, it is more important than ever to clue up on how to stay safe when using the internet. That’s why Include-IT Mersey, a project offering free computer courses and drop ins across the Liverpool City Region, is collaborating with Merseyside Police to offer free online safety sessions.
The sessions will run at Include-IT Mersey’s current free digital drop ins across the boroughs of Merseyside.
Merseyside Police’s Digital Community Support Officer will be attending to answer questions and give information and advice about how to stay safe online.
Lauren Jones, Volunteer Coordinator, who organises Sefton drop ins, said: “The internet is a fantastic tool but you do need to be aware of how to use it safely. That’s why we welcomed working with Merseyside Police’s Digital Community Support Officer to offer the local community hints and tips on just this.
“Our course has a module on internet safety and our Digital Champion volunteers can offer support at our drop ins but if anyone thinks they have been a victim of fraud it is really important to report it.”
The dates for Sefton are:
Wednesday 22nd August at the library in The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DB. Drop in between 10am and 1pm.
Wednesday 5th September at Strand By Me shop, ground floor, Bootle Strand Shopping Centre, Bootle, L20 4SZ. Drop in between 11am and 2pm.
Some examples of the types of topics the officer can give advice on are: passwords, types of scams, online banking, online shopping, social media, keeping your child safe online and more.The safety sessions are open to anyone, whether I.T. savvy or not.
Include-IT Mersey’s digital drop ins run weekly and provide support to anyone who would like a bit of extra help on a computer, laptop, tablet or phone. Beginners, if eligible, can join one of the free courses offered by the project if they would like to expand their knowledge of computers.
For more information on this, or to find out where your nearest training venue is, please contact Sefton CVS on 0151 920 0726 (212) or for those online, email includeitmersey@seftoncvs.org.uk
Sefton Older Persons Enabling Resource and Action (O.P.E.R.A) is promising an afternoon of music and dancing at their Rock & Roll Charity Afternoon in September.
Val Johnson, Wellbeing co-ordinator with Sefton OPERA, says: “It’s that time of year to get your blue suede shoes and your hair backcombed!! There will be the How’s That Band, John Franklyn, Richie Gayle and George Gallagher joining us to make a fantastic afternoon.”
In addition to the bands, there will be raffle prizes plus a bar serving tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages.
The afternoon is on Monday, 3 September at Bootle Cricket Club, Wadham Road, Bootle from 1pm to 5pm. Tickets cost £5 and are available by ringing 0151 330 0479.
