From: Wild, Emma [mailto:Emma.Wild@wychavon.gov.uk]

Sent: 26 September 2017 10:36

Subject: NEWS: Wychavon Wellbeing week

Date: 26 September  2017     Use: Immediate                                  Ref: SW3923

Wychavon Wellbeing week

Pictured left to right: Jack Hegarty, Cllr. Gerry O’Donnell, Cllr. Linda Robinson, Kath Smith and Vic Allison.

Wychavon District Council is co-ordinating a week of activities that will help improve people’s wellbeing and the whole district is invited to join in.

The Wychavon Wellbeing Week will take place from 9-15 October, and Wychavon is teaming up with organisations and individuals across the district – from Fortis Living, Worcestershire County Council and WANDS in Droitwich Spa, to the Worcestershire Walking Network in Broadway, Pershore Library, and Wychavon Leisure. Together they will put together and help promote a programme of events and activities that should appeal to people whatever their age or health.

Just some of these activities on offer are health checks, lifestyle yoga, a Tai Chi taster session, a gardening club, lunchtime walks, music for fun, Zumba, creative writing for wellbeing and lots more besides.

Cherrie Mansfield, Wychavon’s Strategy and Performance Manager, who is helping organise the week, said: “The aim of the week is to raise awareness of, and reduce the stigma associated with, mental health issues. It will coincide with World Mental Health Day and we want to promote lots of positive and practical ways to improve wellbeing, as well as show people what help and support is available for people experiencing mental health problems.”

The idea for the Wychavon Wellbeing Week came about following a suggestion made at the Wychavon Partners Together event in November 2016 – the suggestion being to organise a happiness week focusing on the five ways to wellbeing, which are: Connect. Be active. Take notice. Keep learning and give.

Cherrie added: ““There’s a dedicated website at www.wychavon-wellbeing.co.uk –where people can go to see what kinds of activities and events are available during the week. On the website there is also information and links to signpost people to the help and support they may need to help address mental health issues.”

Councillor Gerry O’Donnell, who is the portfolio holder for health improvement at Wychavon District Council, said: “Improving mental health and wellbeing is a key theme in the Wychavon Health and Wellbeing Plan and this week will focus on the five steps to wellbeing.

“One in four people will experience a mental health problem in any given year, so we probably all work with or know someone experiencing a mental health problem. We want to get people, either as individuals or as part of a group, to take part in any of the activities or to find the information they need in whatever ways suits them best, and of course we want to get people talking about mental health.”

During the week, Wychavon and a range of other organisations will put on lots of different activities based around one or more of the five ways to wellbeing. Some activities will be for organisations’ employees and others will be aimed at residents. 

-Ends-

Communications contacts

Emma Wild

Mon-Wed

01386 565102

emma.wild@wychavon.gov.uk

Ian Dipple

Wed-Fri

01386 565526

ian.dipple@wychavon.gov.uk

Spencer Winnett

Mon-Thurs

01386 565585

spencer.winnett@wychavon.gov.uk   

Nicky Rawlings

Mon-Fri

01684 862426 

nicola.rawlings@malvernhills.gov.uk

www.wychavon.gov.uk 

Many Thanks

Emma Wild

Joint Marketing and Communications Manager

Wychavon and Malvern

(Monday – Wednesday)

Tel: 01386 565102

Wychavon District Council

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Visit our website www.wychavon.gov.uk