HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Move Your Mind Programme is a Free activity based 10 week supportive referral programme to improve your emotional and mental wellbeing for those aged 16 and over.  The programme is a combination of activities to improve strength, balance & co-ordination and a ‘Tea & Talk’ discussions on mental health topics.  Taking place at Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre on Thursdays at 10.15am and on Wednesdays at 1.30pm at Stradbroke Swim and Fitness Centre.  To book your place contact 07564 587366 or email midsuffolkmoveyourmind@everyoneactive.com

Sporting Memories Sessions are free session for those aged 50+ who are living with dementia, depression or facing isolation and loneliness.  The sessions are happening on Wednesdays from 10.15am – 11.45am at the Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre, IP14 1LH.  Session include gentle exercise, guest speakers, improve metal health & wellbeing and refreshments are provided.  Booking is not required but if you would like some more info contact 01449 674980

Hand in Hand Social Clubs  The Suffolk Hearing Advisory Service are a running a ‘Hand In Hand’ social club in Lowestoft, providing activities and socialising for people with dual sensory loss. Taking place on the first Monday of every month from 11.30am  – 1.30pm a the Lowestoft & District Deaf Society, Blackheath Road, Lowestoft, NR33 7JG.  For more info contact Christine 01502 717697 or 01473 286060 or emailsuffolkinfo@hhas.org.uk

Armed Forces Veteran Card  If you served in the UK armed forces as a regular or in the reserves in the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force (RAF) or Royal Marines, you can apply for an HM Armed Forces Veteran Card as it is a way to prove that you served in the UK armed forces. The card can make it quicker and easier to apply for support as a veteran. Click on the link for more information on the benefits of the card and to find out if you are eligible: Apply for an HM Armed Forces Veteran Card – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) If you need help applying contact the Veterans UK Helpline on 0808 191 4218 (Mon- Fri 8am – 4pm) or email: veterans-uk@mod.gov.uk 

Music In Our Bones aims to overcome isolation across Suffolk by bringing people together through joyful song. They have created 9 health and well-being singing communities in Ipswich, Bury and Lowestoft as well as two on-line communities.  Reaching out to people who are  managing life with Parkinsons’, Stroke, MS, dementia, anxiety, depression, bereavement and recovery from enduring mental health issues. Click on the image to view the full list of available workshops. To book your place contact Tracy Sharp on 07757809297 or email musicinourbones@gmail.com.

Trans+ Support Service   THE OUTHOUSE  & the NHS are offering a new bespoke support service throughout Suffolk and North East Essex for individuals aged 16+ across multiple formats.

• To transgender
• Non-binary
• Gender questioning
• Support for carers/family
• Support & advice about de-transitioning.

For more information on the service contact trans.support@theouthouse.org.uk

Mildenhall Men’s Shed – Every Tuesday between 10am – 12pm the group meets at the Mildenhall Social Club, Recreation Way, Mildenhall, IP28 7HG and it is a good opportunity to meet & talk with others and play games.  There  is a workshop where you can build items for the local community.  Tjere os a cost of £2 per session for tea & biscuits.  For more information on the group contact Colin Daultrey: colin.daultrey@gmail.com.

f you live in and around Eye, Communities Together East Anglia are hosting free weekly activities on Thursdays at the Michael Burke Wellbeing Centre (IP23 7BH). For more information call 01449 707030.

Wednesdays with Wellbeing Roadshow 2024 will be taking place at a variety of locations across Suffolk throughout the year. For more information and venue details visit the  ‘Community Events’ page on the NHS Wellbeing Suffolk website or email: Suffolk.CommunityTeams@nsft.nhs.uk.

Learning Disability Annual Health Check if you are aged 14 years or over you can register on your GP surgery’s learning disability register and you will be invited to attend a free annual health and with a free health action plan. For more information contact your GP Surgery or the Liaison Nurses via email: liaison.nursesLD@nsft.nhs.uk

Sporting Memories Club  If you like to talk about sport, there is a new Free weekly Sporting Memories Club for people to enjoy reminiscing about sport.  Each session will be on a different sport or have a guest speaker.  it is ideal for anyone feeling isolated, living with dementia, depression and long term conditions.  Taking places every Thursday at the Mildenhall Hub, Sheldrick Way, Mildenhall, IP28 7JX from 1pm – 3pm. For more information visit their website  Alternatively you can email anthony.clarke@acleisure.com  or call 01284 757473.

FREE support and advice on how you can be more active in your local area?  The Active Wellbeing Service delivered by Active Suffolk is designed to support older adults (age 50+) who are currently inactive to find physical activity that suits their needs. With the support of one of their Physical Activity Advisors, you will be able to discuss your motivations to get active, different options that are available locally to you and overcome any barriers, issues or concerns you might have. The service is focused on you as the individual, and their Advisors aim to find the right physical activity option for you.  

You will be signposted to physical activity opportunities in your local community which have been checked by our team to ensure they are safe and appropriate. These range from health walks to gentle exercise classes, falls prevention, Fit Villages projects and even adapted sports. Home/online exercise options are also available.  The Active Wellbeing Service is currently available to residents of the IP1 area of Ipswich and to patients of the following GP surgeries: Bildeston Health Centre, The Constable Country Rural Medical Practice, Hadleigh Health Centre, Holbrook and Shotley Surgery and Needham Market Country Practice.   To find out more please visit: Active Suffolk – Active Wellbeing Service  Or call the Active Suffolk team on 01394 444605 

Reconnect with Nature The Cheshire Wildlife Trust has produced a free ‘Wilder Wellbeing’ guide which has plenty of ideas to help you connect with nature at home or outdoors.  Nature can help to boost your health and wellbeing, whether it is listening to your garden birds or taking a walk.  You can download your free digital copy from their website today.

Have you been spending more time on your phone or laptop as a result of Covid-19? Phone usage is up by about 30% from pre pandemic levels. Whether it’s during a lockdown or as we adjust to new norms, you may have been spending more time on your device/s. Compare The Market: Guide to Screen Addictions and Responsible Digital Use offers insights into screen reliance, responsible digital device use, the impact of Covid-19 on our digital behaviours and suggestions of healthier ways to tackle any unhealthy cycles. Could screen-time habits be interfering with your life, or the wellbeing of yourself, your child or someone you know?

The page also offers useful links to other articles such as those by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health with helpful infographics and guides for parents & families, advice on ‘digital detoxing’, and using a device’s own reporting system to monitor ‘digital wellbeing’.

For practical online safety advice, information and guidance to help reduce the risks of using the internet, take a look at Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership and e-safer suffolk. These sites offer great resources to help keep children, young people, families and vulnerable adults safe whilst online.

Fit Villages Project aims to provide physical activity sessions for adults aged over 55 in rural locations throughout Suffolk to makes a real difference to local communities by bringing people together to socialise, have fun and become more active. Find out more about the Fit Villages Project by clicking on the image below.  To register your villages interest you can visit their website,  email Janet Lawrence or call 07557 633724

Get Me Out The Four Walls was created to ensure that no mother, father or carer feels alone and isolated at home after the birth of their children. Via informal social meets Get Me Out the Four Walls aim to give as many people the opportunity to escape their house and meet others to help prevent the on-set of parental mental illnesses such as postnatal depression, and to help aid stabilisation of mental health.
They strive to support parents that are struggling with a mental illness by offering peer support and postnatal depression-specific social meets delivered by our friendly non-judgemental ambassadors. Get Me Out The Four Walls was created to ensure that no mother, father or carer feels alone and isolated at home after the birth of their children. By creating informal social meets we aim to give as many people the opportunity to escape their house and meet others which we believe helps prevent the on-set of parental mental illnesses such as postnatal depression, and helps aid stabilisation of mental health. There are Facebook groups for events and support: Get Me Out The Four Walls Norfolk | Get Me Out The Four Walls Suffolk | GMOTFW PND Group or you can make further enquiries by emailing them.

Dedicated cancer helpline relaunches. Designed to support patients with a cancer diagnosis during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic the helpline has been relaunched by East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) and is available to anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer and has questions about their care. All calls will be answered by experienced staff, who will answer questions wherever possible. If patients call with a clinical query, the call handler will either signpost them to their own clinical team or ask the team to contact the patient directly. The helpline is available from 9am to 4pm on Monday to Friday. Ipswich patients should call 01473 703008, while Colchester patients can ring 01206 745330.

Befriending Scheme – Mindful Mondays is a safe and supportive space for women who are struggling with low level mental health issues, providing an opportunity to connect with nature and each other at the Friends Community Farm  in Assington near Sudbury.  For further information and a referral form email: info@thebefriendingscheme.org.uk

Activities Across Suffolk  Suffolk Libraries are advising of  a selection of active & creative activities across Suffolk.  To find the full listings of activities, go to the Suffolk Libraries website.

SPOT Wellbeing offers support to adults over 50 in Suffolk to improve and maintain mental and physical wellbeing through occupational therapy, physiotherapy and wellbeing interventions. This non-profit organisation offers all sessions for FREE, and these range from exercise plans, walks, gardening, relaxation sessions, to healthy living plans and more. There are a number of ways you can self-refer to SPOT Wellbeing:

• Tel: 07598 678505
• Email: Spotwellbeing@gmail.com
•  Via their Website
• Direct message on their Facebook page 
• Referral from your GP, social worker, social prescriber or health professional.

Health and Happiness. We can take a look at what makes us happy and how we can promote happiness in ourselves and others. Action for Happiness suggests this article with top tips from positive psychology expert, Vanessa King.

NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme Type 2 diabetes is a condition where your blood glucose (sugar) level is higher than it should be and many people don’t know enough about the condition or how to prevent it. If you are at risk there are lots of small changes you can make to your lifestyle to prevent diabetes from developing.  If you are in the high risk category you can join the free NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme to help you reduce your chances of developing the condition.  Across Suffolk, the local Diabetes Prevention Programme provider is Xyla Health & Wellbeing and there are 3 different way to access the programme:

• The first is via a direct referral from your GP following a blood test which indicates pre-diabetes.
• You can refer yourself onto the programme following an eligible blood test from your GP taken within the last 24 months via the NHS website You will need your NHS number, GP surgery name, blood test result & date in order to register.
• You can take the short questionnaire called  Know Your Risk  on the NHS website and if your score is moderate to high risk you will be automatically be redirected to the NHS website where you can sign up for the programme However this option is only available until 30^th September 2021.

For more information:  Email: info@preventing-diabetes.co.uk  or go to the the NHS Preventing Diabetes website

Suffolk Walking Trails Walking is a great way to exercise and is good for the mind & body. Suffolk is filled with natural beauty, glorious coastline to enjoy while you walk. It has plenty of great trails to discover, whether you prefer the countryside, the coast or a route which takes in historic houses, pretty villages or observing birds & wildlife.  If you would like some guidance on where you can go All Trails has some good ideas from easy circular walks to longer routes. TheSuffolkCoast.co.uk has a advice for the county’s best coastal walks.  walkingbritain.co.uk has produced a walking map of Suffolk that is free to download and print at home.

Independent Age Anxiety Guide Are you feeling anxious about mixing with other people again? Independent Age has produced a handy guide helping people to recognise the signs of anxiety and to learn where to get support. It is natural to feel worried about the relaxation of restrictions and there are some really useful tips and helpful advice available. The guide can be downloaded from their website, or printed copies can be ordered for those who would prefer them. You can contact their helpline on 0800 319  6789.

For older people who might not be online. Not all older people have access to  digital resources. Manchester University‘s Keeping Well At Home booklet offers information and advice on physical and mental wellbeing during Covid 19. Share, download & print for those who cannot.

Keep fit and active indoors even if the gym is closed or your walking or running group has had to suspend activities. If you have a Smart TV and Broadband you can access apps on there to practise a new daily exercise. How about a form of yoga that suits you?

Try these home fitness workout videos from NHS Fitness Studio. Take your pick from 24 instructor-led videos across aerobics exercise, strength and resistance, and pilates and yoga categories.

Dance Exercise Classes. Want to get moving at home? There are a variety of Live Dance Exercise Classes online. Our wonderful friends at DanceEast have light dance exercises that are great for raising morale, and reducing the negative effects of inactivity and inevitable boredom! There are classes for tots under 4 years, children, teens, over 16s and chair based exercises, spanning creative dance, ballet, contemporary, pilates and yoga, so why not take a look at the classes via their YouTube Channel.

Keep fit and active indoors even if the gym is closed or your walking or running group has had to suspend activities. If you have a Smart TV and Broadband you can access apps on there to practise a new daily exercise. How about a form of yoga that suits you?

Try these home fitness workout videos from NHS Fitness Studio. Take your pick from 24 instructor-led videos across aerobics exercise, strength and resistance, and pilates and yoga categories.

Mental health support for young people If you are finding it tough at the moment and would find it helpful to speak to someone, there is help and support available for you by contacting the organisations below.