From expert health advice to cooking demonstrations, henna art and live music, there is something for everyone at the new three-day Alum Rock Community Health Fair, being held on the site of the new £15 million Washwood Heath Health and Wellbeing Centre development in Clodeshall Road, Saltley from Monday 4 October to Wednesday 6 October 2010. (more…)
Residents in Washwood Heath have been harvesting the fruits of their labours, thanks to FoodNet4 Life, an innovative food programme. (more…)
A government health minister toured the facilities at an innovative High Street health centre in Erdington as part of a visit to Birmingham this week (13 September). (more…)
An innovative social enterprise that helps young people with mental health issues is looking for new members in Erdington next week.
Through exercise, community re-integration and employment opportunities, Start Again empowers young people with or at risk of mental health issues. Start Again encourages people aged 13 to 30 to regain control of their lives and re-ignite a sense of purpose and wellbeing.
From 21 September, the Start Again team will be available on the ground floor of the Erdington Health and Wellbeing Walk-in Centre, on Erdington High Street, from 10 – 11am each Tuesday and Friday. Young people can drop in to sign up to the scheme or ask for more information and advice.
The team can offer bespoke one-on-one sessions, group work, help with housing issues, work placements, sexual health advice and confidence building. However, the services offered by Start Again also go beyond traditional approaches and use exercise, which has been shown to improve mental wellbeing, as well as offering a social benefit. This includes a ground-breaking football coaching service that is uniquely designed and tailored to the needs of individuals with, or at risk of mental health issues. This provides young people with access to a structured and safe environment where football is used therapeutically and as a gateway into a wide range of developmental services.
Mark Peters, Chief Executive Officer of Start Again Project CIC, said: “We are delighted to be recruiting from the heart of the community at Erdington Health and Wellbeing Walk-in Centre. One in six people in the UK will have, at some point in their life, a mental health issue. It is widely known that effects of mental illness in early life have a negative impact upon people’s opportunities to complete education, training, gain qualifications or become socially and economically independent.
“Start Again covers the entire spectrum of mental illness from low level anxiety and depression to acute psychosis. Specific focus is placed on supporting people during the challenging transition from adolescence to adulthood, including making the transition from care or supported accommodation to independent living.
“The results from our successful pilot football project showed that at the end of the programme, 90% of the participants enrolled in further education and there was a reduction in cannabis use and dependency on prescription drugs. Users continued to be involved with their own health after the sessions were finished, and one participant even signed up to start their own social enterprise in art and design.”
For more information, call 07974 241194, email info@start-again.co.uk or go to www.start-again.co.uk.
Ends
For more information, please contact Sarah Millard, NHS Birmingham East and North External Communications Manager, on 0121 380 0620.
NHS Birmingham East and North is one of 152 primary care trusts (PCTs) within the English NHS. As a PCT, it is responsible for the wise investment of public money to ensure health improvement, access to health services and where appropriate the provision of health services to a local population of some 438,000 people, across 17 wards in north and east Birmingham.
We organise and fund the delivery of health care with the involvement of local people, maximising health outcomes for every pound spent, referred to as commissioning.
Start Again Community Interest Company (CIC) is for young people to develop their personal, spiritual and social development, enabling them to lead a fuller life in their communities. Start Again works with young people and their parents/carers and professionals to help develop a young person’s aspirations and goals. Young people’s views will be the focal point of the support that is given to them and their community. By providing a tailored package of support we believe that a young person will be able to achieve their set goals. The objectives are to provide a range of opportunities that enable young people to develop understanding and skills, allowing them to:
- Build confidence to broaden horizons.
- Socialise and have fun
- Be inspired to set their own goals
- Receive relevant and appropriate opportunities
- Live healthily
- Receive safe homes and stability
Start Again’s website can be accessed at www.start-again.co.uk.
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