Work continues to improve resident’s health and wellbeing

In November 2022, the District Council approved its four-year Health and Wellbeing Strategy. It highlights a series of priorities that align to Nottinghamshire County Council’s Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, including:

• Improving healthy lifestyles
• Tackling physical inactivity
• Addressing the needs of an aging population
• Improving housing and the environment
• Ensuring the best start
• Recognising mental health

Since its adoption two years ago the District Council has been working with local organisations and partnerships to address these six priorities. This has included the recruitment of a Food Co-ordinator to help tackle food insecurity by supporting local food hubs and providing opportunities for families to learn how to cook nutritious, healthy meals at a low cost. In addition, Community Development Officers are supporting the CVS to tackle health inequalities through the Building Blocks for Health framework in Hawtonville. This has included working with organisations to improve access to health care, community services, more employment opportunities and new skills.  

In 2023 the District Council launched the Barber’s project, a 12-month pilot focused on raising awareness of prostate cancer. The aim of the project was to get men talking to someone they trust, in a relaxed environment with the hopes that they would take better care of their health and go and get checked if they had concerns. The project gave local barbers resources, confidence and free training to help talk to their clients. After a successful evaluation and by the request of the barbers across Newark and Sherwood, resources and support materials have been extended to include men’s mental health.

The District Council has also successfully expanded the Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP) into Newark and Hawtonville. CAP brings together local retailers, law enforcement, schools and health care providers to reduce alcohol harm in children and young people. The partnership ensures a comprehensive approach to tackling challenges posed by alcohol misuse including education programmes and enforcement campaigns that ensure compliance with legal age restrictions. Thanks to the work of the District Council there are now strong CAP networks in Ollerton, Boughton and Edwinstowe, Clipstone and Forest Town and Newark including Hawtonville.

Furthermore, Newark and Sherwood District Council is an active partner on NCC’s Sustainable Food Network, supporting the creation of both the Food Charter and the first JSNA covering food insecurity. The team are also helping to plan the county’s first food summit in October with the event highlighting all of the positive work taking place across the county, it will bring together partners to showcase the work taking place in Nottinghamshire across the whole food system.

Susan Crosby, Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Leisure at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “It is great to hear about all of the important and successful work the District Council are doing in partnership to help improve the health and wellbeing of our residents. We are halfway through the Strategy, and we can see the real progress it is making to the people of Newark and Sherwood. We are a small team delivering on this clear action plan but we are doing so much to drive the Strategy forward including working closely with, and feeding into a range of partners. These important projects and interventions mean that our residents will have opportunities to not only improve their physical health but to also look after their mental health – both equally as important to the wellbeing of our residents.

“The Strategy also doesn’t just highlight health care issues but is also working to improve residents’ access to skills development, employment opportunities and better housing which are also essential foundations to our wellbeing. I am committed to making sure all of our residents have the opportunity to a healthy lifestyle.”