Agenda item - Chair's Communications

The Chair of the Board will start the meeting with a short update on recent developments on health and wellbeing.

16.1    The Chair stated:

“Councillor Penn

“Councillor Penn has been a valued long standing attendee of the HWB. Although not a voting member she attends as the lead member for mental health. She will not be attending the Board for a period of time to concentrate on the Children and Young Peoples agenda.

Fast Track City

“The Towards Zero HIV Taskforce and its four working groups (covering: stigma; innovations in testing and care; patient involvement and peer support; research and education) are now established with terms of reference in place and are meeting regularly.

“Bertrand Audoin, Vice President Strategic Partnerships,  International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC)  visited  Brighton & Hove on 21^st June to spend the day meeting with members of the Towards Zero HIV Taskforce and other stakeholders.

“The first annual report of the Towards Zero HIV Taskforce on progress to date is due to be completed in August and will be presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board in due course

Carers Week

“Each year National Carers Week is celebrated and last month Brighton & Hove City we held a range of events to:

·                    Thank our city’s carers young and old

·                    Promote support for carers with employers

And

·                    Publicise our Carers Hub which is a new partnership of three local charities and local authority assessment staff, who have joined together to create a focal point for unpaid carers, to get information and support they need. The Carers Hub aims to improve the quality of life of carers in Brighton & Hove by offering a wide range of services and comprehensive local resources for carers of all ages. The link to the hub  is https://carershub.co.uk/#primary 

“In Brighton & Hove we have nearly 24,000 unpaid carers and while the role can be rewarding, it equally can have negative impacts. Carers will sometimes need support both in their caring role and to have a life outside of caring. Yet, national statistics evidence that both the physical and mental wellbeing outcomes of carers is less than people of a similar age without caring responsibilities. But there is support available. If you know anybody who you think might benefit then please direct them to the Brighton & Hove Carers Hub

TAKEPART 2018:

“On Saturday 23rd June 2018, an estimated 6000 people attended TAKEPART 2018 event held at the Level. TAKEPART is an annual public health initiative celebrating active lifestyles for people in the city.

“TAKEPART is organised by Brighton & Hove City Council Healthy Lifestyles Team working in collaboration with 70 local sports clubs, dance, exercise groups and other organisations who provide opportunities for people to lead an active lifestyle in the city.

“The event provided a wide range of performances/demonstrations and taster activities for people of all ages and abilities, and included a dedicated active transport zone.

1.   The event and all activities were free to participate in and attend.

2.   All activities were suitable for beginners or those with no prior experience of the activity

3.   Activities were only promoted if they were available in the city throughout the year.

4.   All activities promoted the ethos of inclusion

“Alongside physical activities, the event included a Sugar Smart Healthy Eating area supported by local food outlets registered with the Healthy Choice Scheme, and a dedicated Healthy Lifestyles Zone. Hosted by the Healthy Lifestyles Team and Beezee Bodies this zone provided information and advice, wellbeing checks and referral/signposting to local support on becoming more active, healthy eating, stopping smoking and alcohol reduction.

“The event also saw Albion in the Community (AITC) launch their Check A Mate & Save A Life skin cancer campaign. AITC worked in partnership with Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust and Brighton and Hove CCG to provide a free mole check clinic, as well as free sun cream and UV reactive wristbands and advice about staying safe in the sun. Sixty eight mole checks took place resulting in five referrals to secondary care, including two serious skin cancers. 

“Work in the planning and delivery of TAKEPART sought to reduce environmental impact. Teaming up with the Sustainability Business Partnership CIC work was undertaken to review the event with a focus on reducing single use plastic. This led to: the use of reusable drinking containers for staff and volunteers, ensuring availability of free drinking water at the event and providing specific guidance to caterers and exhibitors on reducing their environmental impact when attending the event.

Walking Out of Darkness

“The Walking Out of Darkness event was held on  Sunday 24th June. The 10 mile walk was part of several around the country aimed at raising awareness on mental health issues run by CLASP( Counselling Life Advice Suicide Prevention Charity). The Executive Director of Health & Adult Social Care,  Rob Persey,  was one of the walkers on what was one of the hottest days of the year so far.

Small Acts of Friendship

“Small Acts of Friendship is having a real impact on patients in the elderly care wards at the Royal Sussex County “Hospital. A  regular and structured team of  Small Acts of Friendship  Activity Staff and Volunteers providing hairdressing, hand massage, art and poetry sessions and digital reminiscence sessions for those patients who are well enough and wish to participate.   Daily newspapers are offered and are really popular with patients.

“In order to record and celebrate the impact of Small Acts of Friendship, filmmaker David Ward produced a short film .The film is available on the Small Acts of Friendship website, on vimeo https://vimeo.com/273850892 and on Facebook https://en-gb.facebook.com/Friends-of-Brighton-Hove-Hospitals-118526171594340/. I understand there is also a just giving campaign and again the link will be in the minutes. https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/fbhh/smallactsoffriendship 

Draft City Plan

“The draft City Plan Part Two was approved  at the 21 June Tourism Development & Culture Committee for a 10 week period of consultation from July 5^th to September 13^th. The City Plan Part Two supports the implementation and delivery of the City Plan Part One (adopted in March 2016) through the allocation of additional development sites and through a suite of detailed development management policies which will be used in the determination of planning applications. The development management policies cover a wide range of topics including high quality design and places, safe and sustainable travel and community facilities. A number of these policies are intended to promote health and wellbeing and we would be very pleased to receive responses to the consultation from members of the Board. Details of how to respond are available on the City Plan Part Two webpage www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/planning/planning-policy/city-plan-part-two”