LG Improvement and Development Healthy Communities bulletin

Healthy Communities Bulletin: July 2010

Health, wealth and wellbeing
The impact of the recession on the public sector is likely to be felt for many years. Read a new SOLACE and LG Improvement and Development report that identifies how local government can make the difficult spending decisions while still improving the health and wellbeing of local communities.

London Health Inequalities Strategy
London Mayor Boris Johnson has published a ‘London Health Inequalities Strategy’ to tackle the “stark” health inequalities between different areas of London. The Mayor has asked for the 33 London councils to team up with key partners including the NHS, voluntary sector and businesses. The aim is to tackle glaring inequities and improve the lives of local people.

Food hygiene is key this summer
Rigorous food hygiene is vital during the hot weather due to an increased risk of food poisoning. Taking the lead from the Food Standards Agency, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, is advising local people about food safety in the kitchen and at barbecues. Residents were made aware of the guidelines outlined during Food Safety Week in June 2010.

Kiosks making a difference to homophobic hate crime
The London Borough of Hounslow in partnership with the Metropolitan Police are tackling homophobic hate crime. Kiosks have been set up in two Hounslow pubs where people experiencing hate crime (homophobia or domestic violence) can anonymously record what has happened to them on a touch sensitive screen.

A clean bill of health: environmental protection improving health
Pollution reduces life expectancy and increases health inequalities. A new LG Group publication ‘A clean bill of health’ makes the point that tackling pollution should be considered alongside other important local health issues such as reducing smoking, healthy eating and exercise. It outlines the effects of pollution on health and what preventative steps councils can take.

Helping people with learning disabilities get fitter
‘Fit for life’ is an innovative initiative which encourages adults with learning disabilities to participate in exercise. The scheme is run by two community learning disability nurses from North Devon Community Learning Disabilities team. Find out how the project raises the self-esteem of participants and focuses on social inclusion through networking, improving health and wellbeing.

News Now

Sweet drinks lower stress and aggression

Urgent action required on salt and fats in foods says top doctor

News and research

Mental health and worklessness

Targeting fuel poverty

Camden and London’s rough sleepers: a changing demographic

Audit Commission study tackles NEET issue

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Healthy Communities Conference
The Healthy Communities Conference will be held in London on 7 October 2010. There the Local Government Improvement and Development Healthy Communities team will be presenting an overview of the current landscape for health in our communities and considering the leadership role that local government plays. Also being showcased will be a study on the business case for health.

Taking part will be Professor Sir Michael Marmot, Director, UCL International Institute for Society and Health and Susan Biddle from Local Government Improvement and Development. Public sector employees qualify for fully-funded places on a first come, first served basis. The conference is presented in partnership with GovToday.

Launching the new – ‘Health Inequalities Scrutiny Programme Community of Practice’
The Health inequalities Scrutiny Programme has been running for just over a year and there is a lot to share with you. A community of practice (CoP) has been set up to discuss the issues pertinent to the programme.

A CoP is a network of individuals with common problems or interests who get together and explore ways of working to identify common solutions and share good practice and ideas. Join today! If you get stuck and require more information please contact su.turner@cfps.org.uk

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If you are having problems with any of the above, or you have a query or comment about the Knowledge Healthy Communities bulletin, please contact:
email:mariam.manneh@idea.gov.uk or
telephone 020 7296 6108.