Healthier Wyre

Ways to improv e your hea lth and wellb eing in Wyre

www.wyre.gov.uk/health 01253 891000

Health and wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do

Healthier

We’re here to help Here in Wyre, we want all of our residents to live the healthiest life possible. Good health is about staying fit and well but it is also about the mind as well as the body. Getting out, socialising and learning new skills are all part of leading a healthy lifestyle.

Together with our partners we’re here to help you take positive steps to maintain and improve your health and wellbeing.

We work together with a wide range of local partners to offer a variety of services and events, from gardening

clubs to singing groups, volunteering opportunities to health walks and much more – all centered around reducing social isolation and improving health and wellbeing. We’ve started to see some brilliant results, and it’s clear that what we are doing together is having a real and positive effect on local residents.

In this brochure you will find lots of information about what’s on in Wyre as well as useful contact information for our partners to help get you feeling your best.

GETTING OUT AND ABOUT Harmony and Health Singing Groups

way to try something new, or you can just come along, enjoy the music and watch the dancing while you meet new people. To find out more call 01253 887693.

It’s said that singing can relieve stress and alleviate anxiety so why not have fun and let off some steam at the free Harmony and Health singing groups across Wyre: •

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Thornton Little Theatre, every Tuesday 10.30am-noon Marine Hall, Fleetwood every Tuesday at 1.30pm - 3pm Hambleton Village Hall, every Wednesday 1.30pm – 3pm

Gardening Club at Memorial Park, Fleetwood Anyone interested in trying their hand at gardening is invited to Memorial Park’s gardening club, which is held behind the pavilion as follows: •

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Each group is friendly and welcoming and no experience is necessary. To find out more call 01253 887693.

Tea Dance Every Monday from 2pm – 4pm there is an afternoon tea dance at Marine Hall’s beautiful ballroom in Fleetwood.

Entrance is £4.50 which you can pay on the door. There’s no need to book and no experience is necessary. It’s a great

Wednesday mornings (9.30am until noon) Friday afternoons (12.30pm until 4pm)

All abilities are welcome.

The gardening club is a great way to improve health, fitness and wellbeing.

Just come along to a session to learn (or share) gardening skills, and enjoy a brew and a chat. Find out more about the gardening club at www.memorialparkfleetwood.co.uk

Parks and beaches We are lucky in Wyre to have so many beautiful parks and open spaces including the award winning Wyre Estuary Country Park in Stanah and the Grade II listed Memorial Park in Fleetwood. Why not get out and take a stroll, run or cycle ride?

At our parks there are children’s play areas and nature trails to enjoy, picnic spots, all types of flowers and plants and much more. Plus our coastline setting means that we have stunning beaches and promenades right on our doorstep.

Just a few minutes each day in the great outdoors can help can do wonders for both your physical and mental wellbeing. To find out about the parks and beaches in Wyre visit www.wyre.gov.uk

Beach cleans Along with Love my Beach and local communities we host a number of beach cleans each week. These provide a great opportunity to use your time to help us improve the coastline environment and tackle a global problem. All you need to do is turn up and wear suitable clothing for being outside on the beach. All equipment is provided and at some of the cleans there’s even the chance to enjoy a warming brew after with the team.

To find out when the beach cleans take place visit www.lovemybeach.org

Volunteering Volunteering is a great way to improve your health and wellbeing. Research has shown that volunteering can really give your mental and physical wellbeing a boost. As well as improving confidence, giving something back to your community can keep you active and help you to meet new people leading to a greater sense of wellbeing.

If you have spare time on your hands you can make a big difference in your local community.

There are lots of opportunities to volunteer in Wyre - in our parks, theatres, countryside and more. Plus we are looking for volunteers to support vulnerable adults who are socially isolated and living within local communities. This type of befriending

offers support and friendship to people who may be living at home, housebound or who might just need help on a short term basis. Just a few hours a week can make a real difference to someone’s life. If you could be that friend for somebody we’d like to hear from you.

Contact Wyre’s Volunteer Co-ordinator on 01253 887504 or email volunteering@wyre.gov.uk

GETTING ACTIVE The NHS advises that adults should aim to do 150 minutes of physical activity per week. We’ve got some great ways for you to get more active and clock up those minutes!

Walking Wyre has a huge variety of walking opportunities, from coastal dunes to wild upland moors and riverside trails to quiet country villages.

Wyre Council promotes a range of routes throughout the district which can be accessed via our programme of guided walks, or as self-guided trails, some of which are accessible to tramper vehicle users.

The tramper is an all-terrain electric vehicle designed for people with differing abilities to access the countryside.

For more information and to book a tramper contact: •Wyre Estuary Country Park, Stanah Picnic Area (Wyre Council) 07976 650803 - wyre.gov.uk •Beacon Fell (Lancashire County Council) 0300 123 6701- lancashire.gov.uk •Fell View Caravan Park - 01524 791283 fellviewparkandfishing.co.uk •Cobble Hey Farm and Gardens 01995 602643- cobblehey.co.uk •Bowland Experience 01200 448000 forestofbowland.com Health Walks Walking Wyre is an accredited health walks scheme and is run by Wyre Council. It aims to encourage people of all ages to get out walking to improve their health. Our health walks are up to one hour on flat easy surfaces. These walks then progress to one hour walks over undulating terrain, over a period of weeks, enabling people to progress to longer walks over time.

Information about walking in Wyre, as well as dates and times of guided walks and health walks can be found at www.wyre.gov.uk/walking You can also get more information at the Visit Garstang Centre at Cherestanc Square, PR3 1EF or by calling 01995 602125.

Fleetwood Parkrun 9am every Saturday

Setting off on the promenade outside Fleetwood YMCA at 9am every Saturday, Fleetwood’s Parkrun is part of a worldwide series of 5k events. It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing or how fast you go. What matters is taking part. If you’d like to take part you can walk, jog or run, or even take up a role as an event volunteer.

Those who have never run before needn’t be put off, as walking is an option. However for those wanting to give it a try, Fylde Coast YMCA often run free couch to 5k sessions. Call into one of their centres to find out what’s on near you.

To take part in the Parkrun you need to register first. Simply go to www.parkrun.org.uk/register then just turn up at your event. Once registered you can take part in any Parkrun as often as you want and you will never need to register again. Under 11s need to be accompanied by an adult.

TrySport We are proud to sponsor the TrySport scheme that is delivered here in Wyre

by Fleetwood Town Football Club Community Trust and Fylde Coast YMCA. The programme gives young people the chance to get involved in lots of different types of sport. It’s a great way of making new friends, trying something new and gaining some sports specific skills, and of course having fun!

There’s a really wide variety of sports to have a go at from dodgeball to street dance and climbing to football, plus loads more. Find out what’s available and download this year’s programme at www.wyre.gov.uk/trysport

Fleetwood Multistars

Fylde Coast YMCA

Wyre Council runs the Fleetwood Multistars programme to provide fantastic opportunities for young people aged 8-20 years with disabilities or special/additional needs to take part in a wide variety of sports and activities.

Get fit and have fun at one of our Fylde Coast YMCA leisure centres in Wyre with fitness activities for all ages and abilities. The centres in Poulton, Thornton, Garstang and Fleetwood offer a mix of gym facilities, fitness classes, relaxation classes, swimming pools and much more. Working together with Wyre and Fylde Councils, Fylde Coast YMCA aims to ensure that all members of the community have access to superb facilities and programmes so that everyone can enjoy an active lifestyle.

Apart from the obvious health benefits of taking part in sport, the scheme also helps to develop confidence and gives young people a chance to socialise in a safe and positive environment. Taking place every Thursday at Fleetwood High School sports hall there is a small charge of ÂŁ2 per hour at sessions. For more information call 01253 891000.

A range of membership options are available, with no contract. Visit www.ymcayactive.org to find out more and to download your free one day pass.

Your Move Fylde Coast YMCA also offers the Your Move programme which provides support for local adults, children and families who want to become more active and lead a healthier lifestyle.

Your Move offers free 12 week programmes that you can access simply by filling out a self referral form on the Your Move website www.yourmoveprogramme.co.uk

OTHER HEALTH AND WELLBEING SUPPORT Dementia Friendly Wyre Wyre Council has embraced the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends campaign, the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia. It aims to transform the way the nation thinks, talks and acts about the condition. A number of council officers, elected members, traders at Fleetwood Market and local businesses have become Dementia Friends so far.

Reminiscence sessions We regularly host reminiscence sessions at our venues across Wyre. These provide a chance for people to pop in and handle artefacts and replicas from the past. Run by the council’s arts and events team and volunteers, Just Reminiscing is a new project that encourages people to come together and share their memories by exploring everyday household objects of yesteryear. The sessions are a great way to meet new people or you can bring along a friend.

For details of our upcoming sessions, or if you have a group who would be interested in these sessions please call 01253 887450.

The Big White Wall The Big White Wall is a free online mental health resource for Fylde and Wyre residents. Commissioned by the Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Group it is available to anyone over the age of 16 living in Wyre or Fylde.

Our hope for the future is that the borough will become a dementia friendly community. We have a number of Dementia Friends Champions who can deliver Dementia Friends awareness sessions to businesses and organisations in Wyre with 10 or more staff.

It offers a variety of features for anyone who needs it, they might be suffering from anxiety, depression or just everyday stresses. It’s completely anonymous and the site is monitored by clinically trained ‘Wall Guides’, who are online 24/7.

To find out more contact 01253 887540.

The website is available to use at any time, day or night from a mobile, tablet or desktop. Visit www.bigwhitewall.com

Care and Repair (Wyre and Fylde) Care and Repair provides help, advice and support with repairs, maintenance, adaptations and improvements to your home for householders aged 65 and over, or adults with a disability living in Wyre and Fylde.

Property repair/adaptation service Is your home in need of repairs or adaptation? Are you concerned or worried about dealing with contractors and organising the work yourself?

Care and Repair has an experienced team who, for a small charge, can offer the advice, help and support homeowners may require with repairs, home improvements, maintenance and adaptations.

Handyperson service Care and Repair’s Handyperson Service aims to keep you safe and secure in your home, preventing the risk of trips and falls.

The team can: · Replace light bulbs · Ease windows and doors · Fit smoke alarms and batteries · Supply and install grab rails · Fit minor security measures · Supply and install key safes · Carry out small maintenance jobs If the work you need cannot be done by the Handyperson service, Care and Repair may be able to provide you with details of a reliable contractor who you can contact to provide a quotation.

To find out more contact Care and Repair on 01253 887569 or by email at careandrepair@wyre.gov.uk

Disabled Facilities Grants Did you know that Disabled Facilities Grants are available to help make disabled people’s homes suitable for them to live in and to help them manage more independently?

Adaptations can include: • Access ramps • Widening doors • Ceiling track hoists • Bathroom and bedroom extensions • Improving bathing and sanitary facilities • Stair lifts and through floor lifts You can apply if you are: • A tenant or owner of a property • A landlord on behalf of a

disabled tenant Although grants are means tested, you may not have to make any contribution if you are on certain benefits; if the adaptation is for a child; or if the cost of works (including fees) is below £6,000.

For details of how to apply visit www.wyre.gov.uk/dfg

Healthier Fleetwood Healthier Fleetwood is a resident-led partnership approach to improving the health and well being of each and every resident of the town, parts of which are significantly disadvantaged.

The aim is to bring hope to individual residents by connecting them with their

community, increasing self-confidence by enabling people to become the doers, rather than the done to, and to give residents more control over the factors and decisions that affect their lives.

Healthier Fleetwood does this by sharing the many groups, activities and events in Fleetwood which support residents’ health and wellbeing. They also encourage and develop new ideas and act as a link between the many agencies working in the community.

To find out more visit www.healthierfleetwood.co.uk

FYi Directory For more groups and activities such as friendship groups, family activities, arts and craft sessions and much more take a look at the the FYi directory.

FYi is a new, unique information resource for people across Wyre, Blackpool and Fylde. Created in partnership between local NHS organisations and councils across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre it brings together information about a wide range of local health and council services, community clubs, social groups, wellbeing activities and events into one comprehensive source.

To find out what else is available near you visit www.fyidirectory.co.uk

A Happy Place

A poem by Jill Williams

My world can be so dark and gloomy, I feel blundered and cannot see.

I can cry so many tears of sadness, I’m like a big old weeping Willow tree.

Gail took me to the gardening club.

She knows I fight with life each day.

I am very nervous and anxious.

I thought the gardening club? Will I stay?

Kate is lovely and supportive, I like all of the other members too.

I feel like part of a family, belonging, happy, it’s something new!

We’ve also my friends the gardeners, Darren, Marcel and Dave.

I’m so lucky to have these people in my life, on the Memorial Park, where I feel safe.

I’ve started off as a weed but now I’m a flower, staring to bloom.

I’m so pleased with my new volunteer T-shirt Kate, I’m so proud, I’m over the moon!

If you like a friendly place and people, the gardening club could be for you.

I can definitely recommend it, there’s good company, a chat and a brew.

All the people who work and help on the park, are special in their own unique way.

There’s only illness that will keep me from the gardening club, as I love it and I’m here to stay.