Type=image;ImageID=16890;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Launch of the city's first Healthy Living Hub;TitleClass=strong;
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Low Hill Community Centre marked its milestone with a tea party recently, during which the Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Phil Page unveiled a plaque officially declaring it a Healthy Living Hub.
It means visitors to the community centre can now receive a wealth of health and wellbeing advice and services, with health champions on hand to show people how to access online support, for instance to help stop smoking or reduce their alcohol consumption, and refer them to appropriate health services such as their GP for an NHS Health Check or community pharmacy for advice on medication or minor ailments.
The Healthy Living Hub also has a dedicated health promotion zone, while the community centre itself offers a wide range of services which support health and wellbeing in some way, including a gym, health and fitness sessions, martial arts and activities for families and young people such as cooking sessions, art and crafts and dance and drama.
Councillor Hazel Malcolm, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "The Healthy Living Hub model enables communities to get involved and help bring about better health outcomes for local residents.
"The initiative at Low Hill is building on the fantastic work already undertaken by the community centre which, for the last 80 years, has provided a focal point for the people of Low Hill, The Scotlands and Bushbury."
Lina Martino, Consultant in Public Health with the City of Wolverhampton Council, said: "The volunteers at Low Hill Community Centre should be extremely proud of their achievements in becoming the city's first Healthy Living Hub.
"They have demonstrated fantastic leadership in bringing together a range of local organisations to look at ways to support people to improve their health and wellbeing. Their health champions are able to engage with people that may not have frequent contact with health professionals and let them know about what support is available to them in the community.
"It was very fitting to be able to mark their accomplishment at their 80th anniversary celebrations and we congratulate them for their outstanding efforts."
Tony Blakeway, manager of Low Hill Community Association, said: "It is great that the community centre has come so far over the years and that is down to the dedication of our volunteers who strive to make our community stronger and better.
"We were delighted to host this event to celebrate our history and to recognise our contribution to improving health and wellbeing of local people in line with what people want and need."
The drive to become a Healthy Living Hub came about thanks to a collaboration between a range of partners, including the community association, pharmacies, local volunteers and the Public Health Team at the City of Wolverhampton Council.
It saw members of the community association teamed up with volunteers from Low Hill Nursery to undertake accredited training through Adult Education Wolverhampton to become qualified health champions.
Community organisations interested in finding out more about becoming a Healthy Living Hub are asked to contact Riva Eardley, Pharmacy Support Officer at the City of Wolverhampton Council, by emailing riva.eardley@wolverhampton.gov.uk or calling 01902 554208.
Caption 1: Pharmacy Support Officer, Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Phil Page, Mayoress Elaine Hadley-Howell, and Lina Martino, Consultant in Public Health, at the launch of the city's first Healthy Living Hub at Low Hill Community Centre.
Caption 2: Volunteer Stacey Jones, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing Councillor Hazel Malcolm, Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Phil Page, Mayoress Elaine Hadley-Howell, Consultant in Public Health Lina Martino, Low Hill Community Association manager Tony Blakeway and volunteer Eileen Owen celebrate the launch of the city's first Healthy Living Hub at Low Hill Community Centre.
- released: Monday 3 December, 2018