Friday, April 21, 2006
African Community Partnership launch new project at event tomorrow
The African Community Partnership (ACP) is hosting an event tomorrow Saturday 22nd April, from 10am-5pm at Barnes Wallis on Wildgoose Drive (off Queens Road) to commemorate the launch of a new project called Building Healthier Communities. ACP is working in partnership with New Cross Gate NDC to deliver this new project in conjunction with the array of other NDC activities aimed at improving health and well-being for people living in New Cross Gate.
The objective of the Building Healthier Communities (BHC) project is to improve the health status of the local NDC population; particularly those at-most risk of suffering health inequalities and to strengthen the local health infrastructure.
A dedicated team will be employed over a three year period, consisting of a senior Community Health Development Coordinator and an Outreach Worker. BHC will invest in health education to combat stigma and raise awareness of health issues, particularly Sexual and Mental health through raising awareness on what the health conditions are their causes and prevention, what effective interventions exist and where the services are.
A range of information and resources mainly posters, leaflets, and booklets will be collated and distributed to individuals and local organisations. These will also be made available at the Wild Goose Resource Centre and other strategic locations in the community. Community events aligned to the health calendar will be delivered and in the first year ACP will organise 15 events of which two will be major events ( see calendar of events). At these events there will be screening to target those at risk of the following conditions, smoking related complications, high blood pressure, obesity, coronary heart diseases, HIV, depression, diabetes etc who will then be referred to the appropriate service.
A Well being and Life management Programme an element of the project with a focus to promote healthier lifestyles and mental well being will be run by UAAF and ACP. These activities will be used as an added vehicle for health promotion and to improve skills necessary for positive sexual health. It will establish a social network of support amongst service users by giving access to health, fitness and lifestyle change opportunities and advice in a positive and supported environment.
Each session will run physical activity sessions for local residents, carry out fitness assessments, give lifestyle advice and management, provide exercise counselling and prepare individual exercise programmes; and offer a programme of health prevention initiatives and interventions such as nutritional advice on specific conditions such as diabetes, which reflect local needs and which complement services offered by the Health Authority and voluntary organisations.
Sessions will run at Barnes Wallis Centre, and in the second year of the project include Scotney Hall.
To strengthen the local health infrastructure within the NDC voluntary sector BHC will offer training, quality assurance packages and mentoring and also facilitate networking opportunities.
The project has already forged real partnerships with Ugandan Action Aids Fund (UAAF) in the delivery of this work. This will be extended to a whole range of statutory agencies such as Lewisham PCT, South London and Maudsley Trust (SLAM), London Borough of Lewisham and other organisations involved in the delivery of health related services.
A starting point towards a successful project is the recognition of all the networks that exist in the New Cross Gate NDC area. This will only be possible if there is commitment, energy and deep local knowledge. ACP will endeavour to strive towards this.
The African Community Partnership (ACP) is hosting an event tomorrow Saturday 22nd April, from 10am-5pm at Barnes Wallis on Wildgoose Drive (off Queens Road) to commemorate the launch of a new project called Building Healthier Communities. ACP is working in partnership with New Cross Gate NDC to deliver this new project in conjunction with the array of other NDC activities aimed at improving health and well-being for people living in New Cross Gate.
The objective of the Building Healthier Communities (BHC) project is to improve the health status of the local NDC population; particularly those at-most risk of suffering health inequalities and to strengthen the local health infrastructure.
A dedicated team will be employed over a three year period, consisting of a senior Community Health Development Coordinator and an Outreach Worker. BHC will invest in health education to combat stigma and raise awareness of health issues, particularly Sexual and Mental health through raising awareness on what the health conditions are their causes and prevention, what effective interventions exist and where the services are.
A range of information and resources mainly posters, leaflets, and booklets will be collated and distributed to individuals and local organisations. These will also be made available at the Wild Goose Resource Centre and other strategic locations in the community. Community events aligned to the health calendar will be delivered and in the first year ACP will organise 15 events of which two will be major events ( see calendar of events). At these events there will be screening to target those at risk of the following conditions, smoking related complications, high blood pressure, obesity, coronary heart diseases, HIV, depression, diabetes etc who will then be referred to the appropriate service.
A Well being and Life management Programme an element of the project with a focus to promote healthier lifestyles and mental well being will be run by UAAF and ACP. These activities will be used as an added vehicle for health promotion and to improve skills necessary for positive sexual health. It will establish a social network of support amongst service users by giving access to health, fitness and lifestyle change opportunities and advice in a positive and supported environment.
Each session will run physical activity sessions for local residents, carry out fitness assessments, give lifestyle advice and management, provide exercise counselling and prepare individual exercise programmes; and offer a programme of health prevention initiatives and interventions such as nutritional advice on specific conditions such as diabetes, which reflect local needs and which complement services offered by the Health Authority and voluntary organisations.
Sessions will run at Barnes Wallis Centre, and in the second year of the project include Scotney Hall.
To strengthen the local health infrastructure within the NDC voluntary sector BHC will offer training, quality assurance packages and mentoring and also facilitate networking opportunities.
The project has already forged real partnerships with Ugandan Action Aids Fund (UAAF) in the delivery of this work. This will be extended to a whole range of statutory agencies such as Lewisham PCT, South London and Maudsley Trust (SLAM), London Borough of Lewisham and other organisations involved in the delivery of health related services.
A starting point towards a successful project is the recognition of all the networks that exist in the New Cross Gate NDC area. This will only be possible if there is commitment, energy and deep local knowledge. ACP will endeavour to strive towards this.
# posted by Donnie Gall @ 12:10 pm 
