Heads Up Cheltenham raises awareness with Feel Good Fortnight

Feel Good Fortnight kicks off this Friday (8 October) with Heads Up Cheltenham and Gloucestershire NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) teams available from 9.30am to 3pm on Cheltenham’s high street, sharing information and leaflets about some of the mental health and wellbeing services available in the town ahead of World Mental Health Day, Sunday 10 October.

Councillor Victoria Atherstone, cabinet member for culture, wellbeing and business, said: “Mental health or ‘wellbeing’ is just as important as good physical health. Mental health issues can affect anyone at any time and as a town we’ve faced extreme lifestyle changes over the past 18 months due to the impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak. Whether that’s been social isolation, loss of a loved one, career uncertainty including unemployment, all such matters lead to additional stresses and anxieties.

“I’m pleased that Heads Up Cheltenham alongside Gloucestershire NHS colleagues will be available to speak to in the town centre this Friday, ready to offer information about local support services to anyone that feels they’d like to know more and  who they to talk to.’’

To support the awareness of Feel Good Fortnight, Heads Up Cheltenham will also be hosting a session for local mental health and wellbeing agencies at the Municipal Offices, as well as information sessions for both employers and the public called ‘Wellbeing Wednesdays’ on 13 and 20 October.

Local employers can sign up for a Healthy Workplace session to be held at the Municipal Offices on Wednesday 13 October from 1-2pm, led by Healthy Workplaces Gloucestershire. There will also be the chance to learn about the Healthy Workplace Award, and how employers through the wellbeing activities and opportunities they offer, can qualify for the award in their organisation. To sign up or for more information visit Wellbeing Wednesday - employer webpage.

The public also has the opportunity to learn more about Healthy Lifestyles Gloucestershire’s sessions on smoking, losing weight, or reducing alcohol intake and increasing physical activity in order to improve health and wellbeing. Cheltenham residents can sign up for taster sessions on Wednesday 20 October 1-2pm, at the Municipal Offices, by registering at the Wellbeing Wednesday webpage

After half-term, a selection of recorded wellbeing sessions will also be available to view on the Heads Up Cheltenham webpage at www.cheltenham.gov.uk/heads-up

Find out more about Heads Up Cheltenham and their work on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/headsupchelt.

For media enquiries contact [email protected] or call 01242 264332.

Notes:

Heads Up Cheltenham steering group includes: Cheltenham Borough Council, Gloucestershire Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust, Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, Move More, Cheltenham Borough Homes, Cheltenham Education Partnership, Cheltenham Learning Partnership, The Cheltenham Trust, Gloucestershire Rural Community Council, Gloucestershire County Council and Gloucestershire Constabulary.

The Gloucestershire Healthy Lifestyles Services has been commissioned by Gloucestershire County Council Public Health and is delivered by ICE Creates Ltd. behaviour change specialists, who over the past 20 years have been developing a person-centred approach focused on person-led health and wellbeing.  We don’t believe in ‘one size fits all’.  Just as people are unique and individual, so is the support that we offer. We work with individuals, organisations and communities to support them to both engage with their health, and to make sustainable positive changes.  Further information can be found at www.ICECreates.com