19 Jun 2006 - Bolsover LSP News & Events 2006
Partnership Elections
Nominations were received for Chair and Vice-Chair of the Partnership in April 2006. Mandy Chambers, Assistant Director of Public Health for North Eastern Derbyshire PCT, was re-elected as Chair of the Partnership for a further year. Cllr Eion Watts, Leader of Bolsover District Council, was elected as Vice-Chair of the Partnership
Compact Development
The Partnership is working towards developing a local Compact which will be adopted by partner organisations within the District. The Compact is based upon the Derbyshire wide document. The Compact will deliver an overarching framework which establishes how statutory organisations and the Voluntary & Community sector will work together. The local Compact is, in essence, the local action plan for the Derbyshire Compact that the Partnership signed up to in 2005.
In Bolsover district, a good relationship already exists between statutory organisations and Voluntary organisations/Community groups. The Compact is seen as the means of developing that relationship further over the coming years, building upon existing good practice.
For more information about the Derbyshire Compact http://www.thecompact.org.uk/
Community Strategy Launch
MORE than 150 people have helped to help launch the Bolsover Sustainable Community Strategy.
Local residents joined representatives from community and voluntary groups, the emergency services, county, district and parish councillors at Van Dyk’s Hotel, Clowne, on April 25.
A series of presentations from those involved in drawing up the strategy, including Bolsover Local Strategic Partnership and the Community Empowerment Network, was followed by speeches from the chairs of the five LSP working groups.
Members of the audience were then able to ask questions of the group chairs – all adding to the future development of the strategy.
Following the event, a partnership spokesman said: “The launch has been really successful because the community has got together to celebrate a strategy designed to improve the wellbeing of where they live and work.
“We have a number of aims and objectives and, by working together in partnership; we know we can achieve them.”
The Strategy was compiled following months of consultation, via questionnaires, interviews and meetings, and presents how improvements can be made based on key strategic aims relating to community safety, housing, employment, transport, education and health.
It was been drawn up by a partnership of local organisations, including Bolsover District Council and Derbyshire County Council, education and employment organisations, the emergency services and health services and the Community Empowerment Network for Bolsover District.
For more information, log on to www.bolsoverpartnership.org.uk
LSP Partners meet the Prime Minister
Bolsover LSP partners spent time discussing a new local health initiative with Prime Minister Tony Blair, during a visit to 10 Downing Street on the 25th April; the same day the LSP launched its Sustainable Community Strategy. The event was organised to share views on how organisations can work together to improve the health of our nation.
Barry Henderson, a PCT Health Trainer with the Local Strategic Partnership’s Bolsover Wellness Scheme in Bolsover District, and Judy Derricott, part of the PCT’s Health Improvement Team in the same area, were invited to Number 10 to talk about the Health Trainer role as part of the Government’s ‘Small Change, Big Difference’ campaign.
The campaign emphasises that making small changes to your lifestyle can have a significant impact on how long you will live.
The Bolsover Wellness programme is a good example of the campaign ethos. The programme was set up to tackle health inequalities across Bolsover District by offering targeted physical activity programmes. It offers a supportive, safe environment for people to exercise and gain advice on health related matters.
Some of the activities offered on the programme include; gym based exercises, circuit training, tai chi, swimming, chair based exercise and referral onto local Waist Watchers, Change for Life and smoking cessation programmes.
All patients are referred onto the scheme by their doctors and have to meet certain criteria to qualify, however this can be as varied as weight reduction to cardiac conditions. The scheme enables people to exercise in a safe, friendly and professional atmosphere, taking part in activities that they would not normally participate in.
Once referred from your GP an initial assessment would take place involving height and weight measurements, a blood pressure test and a graded exercise examination carried out by qualified referral instructors.
It's easy being green
‘INVOLVE’, the Community Empowerment Network for Bolsover District, held a celebration event and exhibition last week where a display of photographic evidence was presented by community associations showing areas of green and grot spots within their communities.
‘INVOLVE’ was commissioned by the Bolsover Local Strategic Partnership Housing and Environment Action Group to request community groups across the District to apply for funding to support environmental projects. An INVOLVE colleague said, " Alot of hard work has gone into this project and it has not been easy, but the hard work and rewards are there for all to see".
The Winners attended the event where they received a commemorative inscription. Medals and plaques were presented to the young winners of the anti-litter G2G poster competition.
For more information please call INVOLVE 01623 747147.