Health and Wellbeing Event in County Durham

A #wellbeing approach networking event took place in Durham last Friday (30 September), as part of County Durham’s Joint Health and Wellbeing strategy – where one of our iHV Fellows, Hilary Earl, secured a stand to promote health visiting as well as the iHV and her local Ready Steady Mums group.

Gill O’Neill, the interim director of public health in County Durham, made the opening remarks at the event that has been 2 years in the planning .

The event also coincided with the Macmillan fundraising week, which was well supported.

“Working together for Wellbeing” cake at County Durham Health and Wellbeing event

Attendees enjoyed several carousel-style workshops – learning about local health initiatives ranging from Health Trainers and Community Parents to Health Visitors and School nursing services.

With the focus on wellbeing, there were energising activities throughout the day for the delegates.

The iHV stand was well visited and the resources were popular. Plus Hilary used the opportunity to promote their local Ready Steady Mums group in Spennymoor.

RSM Spennymoor poster at County Durham Health and Wellbeing event

Hilary commented:

It was fabulous networking and a great example of excellent joint working with our commissoners.

Do join us for our #iHVForum Twitter chat on Monday 16 May

Our next #iHVForum takes place 7-8pm on Monday 16 May on the topic of Socialise and Exercise – the public health benefits of Ready Steady Mums (RSM) ‘Socialcise’ groups.

Katy Tuncer, founder of Ready Steady Mums

Please do join us for a special twitter chat with Katy Tuncer, Founder Director of RSMs. Katy (@KatyTuncer) will be joined by Elaine McInnes (@elainemcinnes1) and together they will discuss the public health benefits of socialising and exercise for new mums (and dads!). They will provide top tips for health visitors to support these groups in their local communities.

So on just before 7pm on Monday 16 May, grab a cuppa and then settle down to follow and join in the conversation on Twitter by following everything on #iHVForum.

See you there!

Prime Minister awards mum for starting social exercise community groups for new mothers

A mum of three boys who set up a national network of volunteer-led community activity groups for mothers to help over 1000 mums across England actively embrace motherhood together has been named a Point of Light by Prime Minister David Cameron.

Katy Tuncer set up Ready Steady Mums – local volunteer-led groups where mothers meet to exercise together, such as in a park or community centre. These groups help new mothers, who may feel cut off from friends and other sources of support after the birth, overcome feelings of isolation and depression. The groups are started by a mother, with support from their health visitor. They begin as a gentle walking group with other local mums before starting other types of physical activity, meaning there is a very low barrier for mums to get started.

Katy Tuncer, founder of Ready Steady Mums

Prime Minister David Cameron said:

“Katy has shown fantastic community spirit, taking the enjoyment and support she got from walking with other new Mums, and creating a nationwide movement to help others share the same experience. Ready Steady Mums has grown into a wonderful way for Mums to come together in their local community. I am delighted to recognise her as the UK’s 436^th Point of Light.”

Read the full press release

iHV responds to Chief Medical Officer’s call to reduce maternal obesity

The new annual report from the Chief Medical Officer, ‘Health of the 51%: women’, highlights obesity as one of the biggest risks to women’s health, affecting all aspects of a woman’s life from birth, family planning, pregnancy and right through to menopause and later life.

Dr Cheryll Adams, Director of the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV), said: “The Institute is very much aware of the impact of being overweight on the physical and emotional wellbeing of mothers and their children – healthy weight, healthy nutrition being one of the Department of Health’s High Impact Areas for health visitors. To support this, the iHV is rolling out new Healthy Weight, Health Nutrition Champions Training for health visitors in the New Year. In addition, we have our new Ready Steady Mums community activity programme to get new mums together and become active with their children.”

Read the full press release