Put your best foot forward and get fit “Walking can be a great way to gain energy, relieve stress and burn extra calories. Staying active can be more motivating and enjoyable in a group and there are a number of walking groups.” cllr abdul asad, cabinet member for health and wellbeing A healthy example Over the past three years, the health check programme in Tower Hamlets has had one of the highest uptakes. see below News News in brief A helping hand A PROJECT, which encourages people with long term health conditions to take control of their own well-being, has been awarded a bursary. The funding will help to improve the health and care of vulnerable groups during the winter months. Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has awarded its winter planning innovation bursary to community development charity, Social Action for Health. Iffat Shahnaz, borough director for Tower Hamlets at Social Action for Health, said: “The winter bursary planning project will enable us to work across Tower Hamlets on developing health learning programmes that allow people to better take care of themselves during the winter months.” Take charge with an NHS health check RESIDENTS are being urged to take charge of their health by attending a free NHS health check. The checks are aimed at lowering the potential risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and some forms of dementia. If you’re aged between 40 and 74, and you have not already been diagnosed with one of these conditions, you will be invited for a check at your GP, pharmacy or community healthcare centre every five years. Urging residents to take up the offer of a free check-up, Dr Sam Everington, chair of NHS Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group and a local GP, said: “It will only take up a short amount of your time, but the benefits for your health could be enormous. “We’re also keen to stress that if you're at all concerned about your health – and if you’re outside of the designated age range, already have a pre-existing condition or if you have not yet received an invitation – please do contact your local GP surgery.” Smart swap to a healthy 2014 Project will be hosting stalls at various mosques and GP practices in January and February. ■ Stop by Ford Square Mosque this Friday, January 17 from 12.30- 2.30pm to have a chat –7882 8669 (women) or 7882 8660 (men). For a full list of activities in the New Year visit www.tower hamlets.gov.uk/gethealthy Annual Voter Registration - REMINDER Philpot St, E1 – Tues, 1-2pm; lunchtime group clinic – Tues, 12-1pm (from Jan 14). ■ Roman Road Drop-In, Idea Store Bow, Gladstone Place, E3 – Thurs, 11am-2pm. ■ London Chest Hospital Drop- In, Room 9, Outpatients Dept, Bonner Road, E2 – Fri, 11am-1pm. ■ The Bangladeshi Stop Tobacco Our canvassers have assisted nearly 80% of residents to complete their voter registration form 2013/14. Residents who have not yet confirmed their details will receive a reminder form this week. If there are no changes to be made or, if no one in the household is eligible to register, it is still a legal requirement for each household to return their Voter Registration form. Registering for other services or paying Council Tax does not automatically register you to vote. The revised Register of Electors will be published by 17th February 2014. If you have any questions, please contact the Electoral Services Office: Tel: 020 7364 0872 Fax: 020 7364 3758 Email: electoralservices@towerhamlets.gov.uk Website: www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/vote BY ANNA WILSON THE New Year is a good time to make a healthy new start, whether it’s eating better, becoming more active or stopping smoking. This January, Change4Life is encouraging people to sign up to the Smart Swaps challenge to make at least one small healthy improvement every day for a month. This new campaign aims to help families cut sugar and saturated fat from their everyday snacks, drinks and meals. Change4Life is calling on families to sign up and make one easy change – such as swapping sugary drinks to sugar-free or diet drinks, milk or water. By doing this, an average family could save up to three quarters of a bag of sugar over four weeks. By signing up, families will receive free resources, full of healthier swap and meal ideas, money off vouchers and fridge magnets as well as supportive emails and texts. Visit www. nhs.uk/change4life to sign up. The council is also providing advice and support on how to make healthy food swaps and helping residents sustain their healthy goals beyond the first week of January. Health trainers will be on site at Asda supermarket in East Ferry Road, Isle of Dogs on Wednesday, January 8 to give healthy tips and help shoppers understand the fat, sugar and salt levels on labels. Are you ready to kick the habit? More than 1,000 Tower Hamlets residents have stopped tobacco use over the past six months, thanks to the local stop smoking services. Dr Somen Banerjee, director of Public Health Tower Hamlets, said: “There is local support and services for any health improvement you are looking to make this New Year. Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health and wellbeing. Our large network of stop smoking services continues to help more and more people stay smoke free so speak to your GP or pharmacist today.” Start your New Year by dropping in to one of the sessions below and discussing your quitting options: ■ Philpot Street Drop-In, 43-55 GETTING active is a great way to stay warm during the winter months and going for a walk is one way you can boost your metabolism and your mood. More information on local walking groups can be found at www.walkingfor health.org.uk or at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/walks You can also download the Walkit app to keep track of your route, journey time, steps taken and amount of calories burned. Download it for free at www.walkit.com If you’re looking for something a bit faster-paced, cycling is a low-impact exercise and a great way to keep fit and maintain a healthy weight at any age. Free adult cycle training and regular cycling clubs are available all yearround. The All Ability Cycle Club is open to children and adults of all ages. Free to attend, groups meet on Wednesday afternoons and alternative Saturdays. For more information visit www.bikeworks.org.uk 6 – 12 JANUARY 2014 N E W S F R O M TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL AND YOUR COMMUNITY 7
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