Health events and campaigns

The latest programme of walks is now available.

HeartSmart Walk Programme August - October 2023 (Word doc) [621KB]

Guidance for walkers (Word doc) [17KB]

Book a HeartSmart walk

Walking is a great way to take exercise but sometimes it can be difficult if you:

• don't know where you can walk
• don't have anyone to walk with
• feel unsafe to walk alone

HeartSmart walks are arranged locally by trained volunteer walk leaders. We aim to show you routes, encourage you to keep your heart healthy and help you meet other people you might like to walk with.

Please note that walks will continue if it is raining, walks will only be cancelled in extreme weather conditions. If you are unsure please contact The Health Development Team to check:

Name: Health Development Team

Address:

Chichester District Council
East Pallant House
Chichester
West Sussex
PO19 1TY
United Kingdom

Email: health@chichester.gov.uk

Tel: 01243 534588

Some of the comments from current walkers of how the scheme has improved their health:

• Feeling happy and energised
• Feeling fitter and meeting people
• Having more stamina and enjoying lovely company
• Enjoy good exercise in the fresh air
• Gets me out of the house and meeting people

Meaning of Health to Walkers:

• Living longer, feeling fitter, enjoying life
• Feeling energetic and positive about life
• Keeping fit and independent in retirement
• Being able to do anything I want to do
• Being able to enjoy life to the full
• Having a good, healthy heart, normal blood pressure and good circulation

Families across Chichester District are benefiting from Family Wellbeing, a programme which supports the whole family to get involved in healthy eating and adopting a more active lifestyle. Family Wellbeing is a unique healthy lifestyle programme aimed at children and young people who are above the ideal weight for their age and height.

The programme is fun, free and helps families learn how to become fitter, healthier and happier. Family Wellbeing is about healthy eating and being more active and the programme also focuses on increasing confidence and self-esteem. Activities on the programme include tips on healthy snacks and lunchboxes and advice on reading food labels, as well as weekly games and activities. The programme consists of 10 sessions which are one to one with the family and a Family Wellbeing leader.

If your child is aged between 5 and 16 years old and you think they may be above a healthy weight please contact our Wellbeing Team on 01243 521041 or info@chichesterwellbeing.org.uk.

Family Wellbeing (PDF) [6MB]

Some facts about the sun and skin cancer:

• 59,000  new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year
• In the last five years there have been 8,100 British deaths from Malignant Melanoma compared to 4,900 in Australia
• Skin Cancer appears many years after the skin receives too much UV.  It develops out of sight
• If skin cancer (Non-Melanoma) is caught early, it can almost always be cured.  But it's not always caught early; 9 out of 10 skin cancers are easily treatable if caught early
• Malignant melanoma accounts for less than one in ten skin cancers, is the most serious type of the disease and may be fatal
• Malignant melanoma is the third most common cancer among people aged 15 - 39 and early detection is crucial for successful treatment
• The number of new cases has doubled in the past 20 years

Follow these steps to safer sunning:

• Take care never to burn
• Cover up with tightly woven, loose fitting clothes
• Avoid the sun when its at its height (11am - 3pm)
• Seek shade when possible
• Use SPF 15+ with UVA protection or higher even if you already have a tan
• Re-apply sun cream every two hours (more if you are in the water/sweating)
• Wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses with UV protection
• Take extra care of babies' and children's delicate skin (burning when young increases your risk of skin cancer when older)
• Even on cloudy days wear a sun screen UV rays are still present and premature aging can still take place
• Avoid using sun beds and lamps - they 'age' the skin and may cause skin cancer
• Damage from the sun adds up over the years so start now and prevent any long term damage
• Check your skin regularly and report any unusual changes to your doctor without delay

You are at greater risk if you:

• Have a close relative who has had malignant melanoma
• Have lots of moles
• Are fair skinned with blue eyes
• Have a tendency to freckles
• Tend to burn easily in the sun
• Were born in a hot, sunny country
• Have been badly sunburned at least once in the past five years
• Expose your skin to the sun (or sun beds) off and on

Cancer Research UK (opens new window)

Under new government law all workplaces, public premises/transport and work vehicles in England are smokefree and have been since 1st July 2007. This includes offices, factories, shops, pubs, bars. Restaurants, membership clubs, public transport and work vehicles that are used by more than one person.

The legislation applies to virtually all enclosed and substantially enclosed premises and work vehicles. An enclosed premises has a ceiling or roof and is wholly enclosed excluding windows and doors. This can either be on a temporary or permanent basis. Premises will be considered substantially enclosed if they have a ceiling or roof, and the openings in the walls are less than half the total area of the walls.

A roof includes any fixed or moveable structure or device, e.g. retractable canvas awning, capable of covering all or part of the premises.

The law means that indoor smoking rooms are no longer allowed. You will need to be seen to be taking steps to ensure that employees, customers, members and visitors obey the new law.

• Exemptions from the law
• Enforcing the law
• Penalties
• Displaying of 'No Smoking' Signs
• Vehicle Signs
• Providing External Shelters in Smokefree Premises

Latvian - Smokefree Leaflet (PDF) [654KB]

Polish - Smokefree Leaflet (PDF) [652KB]

Portuguese - Smokefree Leaflet (PDF) [647KB]

Russian - Smokefree Leaflet (PDF) [655KB]