The Active Best Practice Network

Series Introduction - What can you expect?

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 17:10:19 +0100

Welcome to the Active Best Practice Network presented by Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire, hosted by Rich Hurst of GiftedGab Productions.

Within this podcast series, our aim is to connect with listeners on this journey of sharing best practices; aimed at professionals, communities and those who are interested in supporting and sustaining change in the health, voluntary and community sectors. There is a special emphasis on the advantages of physical activity and movement.

Throughout the series of podcasts, we have highlighted partners across the two counties, who are currently working towards improving similar issues and challenges that listeners might encounter, through strategic and grassroot projects that are currently running.

Empowering communities and helping them to thrive

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 08:17:00 +0100

In this episode Rich Hurst speaks with Lucy Bird and Lucy Chick about their experiences in working with communities, highlighting the importance of both listening to, and empowering communities to set up needs-based community projects, based on the assets available to them and ‘going where the energy is’.

Lucy Bird is a Community Builder at Droitwich CVS and has worked within community development for over 12 years. With knowledge of local services and opportunities, Lucy manages and supports residents to develop their offers. Lucy recognises the role of individuals within communities and the need for them to feel connected.

Lucy Chick is a Senior Public Health Practitioner in Worcestershire County Council Public Health team. With 11 years of experience in tackling a range of public health challenges & broader health determinants and is now working on reducing social isolation and loneliness, and working with an asset-based approach. This approach fosters sustainable community-led development by supporting local community assets and encouraging collaboration among individuals, associations, and institutions to enhance and utilise their collective strengths. Public Health has actively funded the integration of this asset-based approach within Worcestershire's communities, in collaboration with District Councils and the voluntary and community sector.
Disclaimer: Projects are subject to funding which may be liable to change after the release date of August 2024.

Links related to this episode:
https://www.activehw.co.uk/

https://www.activehw.co.uk/our-community-can

https://www.droitwichcvs.org.uk/

https://insights.worcestershire.gov.uk/

https://www.nurturedevelopment.org/asset-based-community-development/

https://www.abcdinleeds.com/

The Power of Partnerships in addressing Hypertension

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 21:01:00 +0100

In this episode, Rich Hurst speaks with the Health and Wellbeing Team from Tenbury Surgery (Taurus Healthcare), in Tenbury Wells. In line with the national campaign of ‘Know your Numbers Week’ (2nd to 8th September 2024), the podcast delves into collective experiences working as a Senior Social Prescriber and Health and Wellbeing Coach, addressing community health needs by setting up a hypertension (high blood pressure) group. Throughout the podcast, the practitioners highlight successes and learnings, as the group sessions evolved.

Key Definitions:

Hypertension relates to high blood pressure. Persistent high blood pressure can lead to serious problems like heart attacks or strokes. But lifestyle changes and blood pressure medicines can help people experiencing this stay healthy.

Social prescribing is a key component of Universal Personalised Care. It is an approach that connects people to activities, groups, and services in their community to meet the practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing.

Project background and successes:

The hypertension group has been running for over 12 months. With three cohorts progressing through the six-week lifestyle intervention that has now become a core service offered in their locality.
This programme is regarded as an example of best practice and other Primary Care Networks (PCNs) are looking to replicate the work.
The Health and Wellbeing team were invited to present the project at The National Association of Link Workers Annual Conference and received fantastic feedback.

Additional Support:
If you are concerned about your health, would like to check your blood pressure, or need advice on lowering your blood pressure numbers, please seek medical advice from a healthcare professional or access the website links below.
If you would like to speak with a social prescriber, either ask for an appointment at your GP or ask for a self-referral form at your practice reception.

Links related to this episode:

https://www.activehw.co.uk/

High blood pressure - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Blood Pressure UK

What is social prescribing? | Healthwatch

Designing Movement into the lives of the ageing population

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 07:42:09 +0100

In this episode Rich Hurst speaks with Julia Neal, former CEO of Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire and Huw Griffiths, former Strategic Lead for Active and Healthy Ageing at Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire. They share their experiences in working within projects to support healthy ageing, plus the importance of creating accessible projects, using positive imagery and language. By promoting movement physical activity into adult life, starting as soon as you are able to support conditioning as a preventative measure in frailty , preventing falls and to aid recovery rates. Since recording this podcast Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire have sadly ceased operating, so some of the local projects mentioned may have now changed to other providers, or they may no longer be available. There are still other Age UK charities operating projects across the region, which are highlighted in the links below. If anyone wishes to learn more about the themes shared in the podcast, please contact Lorea Sarobe Director of Physical Activity and Wellbeing at l.sarobe@worc.ac.uk

Links related to this episode:
We are providing some information relating to some of the projects, support centres and activities mentioned within the podcast. It is recommended that you check that the activities are still valid prior to attending.
Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire

Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire | Healthy Ageing

Activity Finder - Active Herefordshire & Worcestershire (activehw.co.uk)

Find Walking Sports Activities in your location

Age UK Worcester, Malvern Hills & Hereford Localities

Age UK | Bromsgrove, Redditch & Wyre Forest Localities

Age UK | National Support and Services

Alzheimer's Society | Find Dementia Services and Support Near You

Ageing Better | Tackling Inequalities in Ageing

Flooding and its impact on sports clubs

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 09:00:00 +0000

In part one of this episode, we speak to Nigel Gould from Evesham Bowling Club and Don McAll from Ledbury RFC.

Nigel and Don discuss the impact of flooding on their sports clubs, the learnings gained from increases in flood occurrences and successful funding applications to minimise the damage of sport-related assets.

Links related to this episode:
We are providing some information relating to some of the external projects and support mentioned in this episode.
Please remember to never put yourself at risk during a flooding event!

Tackling climate change through Sport England's 'Every Move'

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 09:00:00 +0000

In part two of this episode, Denise Ludlam, Strategic Lead for Environmental Sustainability at Sport England and Stephen Brewster, Chief Executive Officer at Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire, discuss Sport England Every Move strategy, and its commitment to supporting clubs and organisations with measures to address climate change issues.

Part two also reflects on some of the valuable insight raised by Nigel Gould and Don McAll in part one.

Peer-to-Peer Learning: The PACC Movement

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode we hear from Toni Martin, Physical Activity Clinical Champion (PACC) for the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) at Sheffield Hallam University and an Associate Lecturer of Midwifery, teaching at BSc and MSC level at the University of Worcester.

Toni shares how PACC training can empower healthcare professionals to understand and communicate the benefits of increasing physical activity to improve health and wellbeing outcomes. Highlighting the hugely positive health impact of going from doing nothing at all, to moving just a little bit more is resourced by Moving Medicine Moving Medicine Consultation Guides; sharing guidance and tips, designed for short patient conversations which can be tailored to health conditions and is backed by insight and real impact stories.

Toni shares a realistic insight into working with patients within the NHS and delivery of the funded PACC training to healthcare professionals. Demonstrating understanding of professional and patient barriers; aimed to support appropriate conversations to get people moving more for long-term health benefits.

For further information regarding the benefits of PACC training, access the PACC section of the Moving Medicine website or express an interest directly by emailing Sheffield Hallum University who currently lead on the national project funded by Sport England.

Disclaimer: Projects are subject to funding which may be liable to change after the release date of December 2024.

Links related to this episode:

We are providing some information relating to some of the external projects and support mentioned in this episode.

Active Hospitals - Moving Medicine

Why Active Conversations? - Moving Medicine
We are Undefeatable - Get active whilst managing a health condition
Moving Healthcare Professionals
NHS - Better Health
ELearning for healthcare - elfh
This Girl Can
The RCGP Physical Activity Hub
BMJ Learning

Funding Journeys: From Searching to Sustaining

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode we learn from Hannah Brooman, Founder and CEO of InUnity and Hannah Escott CEO of Burlish Bike Park and Open Trail. Through their experiences, our guests share funding and grant bid writing journeys; from initially starting small to securing ongoing project funding as their organisations evolved, and new opportunities emerged. This episode offers several valuable tips, from being your own biggest cheerleader when pitching your project in the funding bid, to adjusting as projects progress.

Listen for more tips and shared best practice!

Links related to this episode: We are providing some information relating to some of the external projects and support mentioned in this episode: Funding - Active Herefordshire & Worcestershire InUnity Open Trail - Cycle Coaching & Forest School Get Grants | Introductory Workshops

Stronger Together: Forming Trusted ICS & VCSE Partnerships

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 09:01:00 +0000

In this episode, Christine Price, Chief Officer of Healthwatch Herefordshire and Esther Passingham, VCSE Strategic Lead for Worcestershire VCSE Alliance discuss the Voluntary, Community Social Enterprise (VCSE) network collaborating with the Integrated Care System (ICS).

The discussion highlights the aims of partnership work for the ICS to work in conjunction with the VCSE sector; sharing community voice with healthcare commissioning services to ensure health and care decision-makers hear the views of communities which experience the greatest health inequalities.

This episode highlights experiences across the two counties, challenges, best practice projects and development opportunities for the VCSE alliance members.

Empowering Girls Through Physical Activity

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 06:02:00 +0000

In this podcast we hear from Beky Williams, Managing Director of Stride Active, Dan Thomas, Head of PE and Business at Kingstone High School and Lucy Finch, Teacher of PE at Kingstone High School.

The group discusses projects which have been involved in, that have proved instrumental in gaining feedback from girls within the Herefordshire region, taking action to create space for open conversations to hear from girls on how to reduce barriers to physical activity.

The activities and collaborative events are underpinned by key design principles; aimed at empowering girls to gain knowledge and confidence to increase girls' participation in sport and physical activity within Herefordshire.

The ‘Here Girls Can’ project is the locally adapted offer of the national This Girl Can campaign, commissioned through Sport England and funded by the National Lottery. In 2025, This Girl Can celebrated its 10 year-anniversary.

Insight and data: If you are interested in this work, some impact reports for consideration: PE & School Sport: The Annual Report 2024 - Youth Sport Trust which highlights some national challenges in youths accessing physical activity.

Earlier this year, Stride Active released the 'Here Girls Can 2024 Impact Report'. The report quotes 85% of girls recording an increase in confidence after attending an event. You can access the full report via the links below.

Kingstone High School received the Youth Sport Trust ‘Girls Active Report’ for 2024, exploring girls' motivations, barriers and overall engagement in physical activity. The responses given for key barriers to engaging in sport, physical activity and PE at school were on average more positive for girls at Kingstone High School compared to the national average. In the report, 79% of girls at Kingstone High School enjoyed taking part in physical activity.

This was reflected in many areas, relating to some of the issues and actions referenced in this podcast.

Here Girls Can - Stride Active

This Girl Can | Active Herefordshire & Worcestershire
This Girl Can | This Girl Can | This girl can

Youth Sport Trust - Youth Sport Trust